Doris Leuthard
Encyclopedia
Doris Leuthard is a Swiss
politician and lawyer. Since 1 August 2006, she has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council
. From 1 August 2006 till 31 October 2010 she was head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs
(the Swiss economics minister). Since 1 November 2010 she is head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.
She was elected President of the Confederation for 2010.
Leuthard was a member of the Swiss National Council from 1999 to 2006 and President of the Christian Democratic People's Party
(CVP/PDC) (2004–2006).
Following the resignation of Joseph Deiss
from the Swiss Federal Council
, Leuthard was elected as his successor on 14 June 2006. She received 133 out of 234 valid votes, and became the 109th member (and fifth woman) of the Federal Council. Her election represented a departure from a long precedent of replacing a member of the Federal Council with someone from the same language group. While Deiss was a French speaker, Leuthard is a German speaker.
In 2009, Leuthard was elected Vice President of the Swiss Confederation, virtually assuring her election as president in 2010. Due to a large amount of turnover on the Council in recent years, she was the longest-serving councilor not to have served as president.
As President of the Confederation, Leuthard presided over meetings of the Federal Council and carries out representative functions that would normally be handled by a head of state
in other democracies (though in Switzerland, the Federal Council as a whole is regarded as the head of state). She is also the highest-ranking official in the Swiss order of precedence
, and can act on behalf of the whole Council in emergency situations. However, in most cases, Leuthard is merely primus inter pares
, with no power above and beyond her six colleagues.
Following a reshuffle of portfolios after the by-election of two new councilors in 2010
, Leuthard replaced outgoing Moritz Leuenberger
at the head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.
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Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
politician and lawyer. Since 1 August 2006, she has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
. From 1 August 2006 till 31 October 2010 she was head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs
Federal Department of Economic Affairs
The Federal Department of Economic Affairs is one of the seven departments of the federal government of Switzerland, headed by a member of the Swiss Federal Council.-Organisation:The Department is composed of the following offices:...
(the Swiss economics minister). Since 1 November 2010 she is head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.
She was elected President of the Confederation for 2010.
Leuthard was a member of the Swiss National Council from 1999 to 2006 and President of the Christian Democratic People's Party
Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland
The Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland is a Christian democratic political party in Switzerland. It is the fourth-largest party in the National Council, with 31 seats, and the largest in the Council of States, with 15 seats. It has one seat, that of Doris Leuthard, on the Swiss...
(CVP/PDC) (2004–2006).
Following the resignation of Joseph Deiss
Joseph Deiss
Joseph Deiss is an economist, Swiss politician and a member of the Christian Democratic People's Party . From 1999 to 2006, he was a member of the Swiss Federal Council, heading first the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and then the Federal Department of Economic Affairs...
from the Swiss Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
, Leuthard was elected as his successor on 14 June 2006. She received 133 out of 234 valid votes, and became the 109th member (and fifth woman) of the Federal Council. Her election represented a departure from a long precedent of replacing a member of the Federal Council with someone from the same language group. While Deiss was a French speaker, Leuthard is a German speaker.
In 2009, Leuthard was elected Vice President of the Swiss Confederation, virtually assuring her election as president in 2010. Due to a large amount of turnover on the Council in recent years, she was the longest-serving councilor not to have served as president.
As President of the Confederation, Leuthard presided over meetings of the Federal Council and carries out representative functions that would normally be handled by a head of state
Head of State
A head of state is the individual that serves as the chief public representative of a monarchy, republic, federation, commonwealth or other kind of state. His or her role generally includes legitimizing the state and exercising the political powers, functions, and duties granted to the head of...
in other democracies (though in Switzerland, the Federal Council as a whole is regarded as the head of state). She is also the highest-ranking official in the Swiss order of precedence
Swiss order of precedence
The Swiss order of precedence is a hierarchy of important positions within the government of Switzerland. It has no legal standing but is used by ceremonial protocol....
, and can act on behalf of the whole Council in emergency situations. However, in most cases, Leuthard is merely primus inter pares
Primus inter pares
Primus inter pares is Latin phrase describing the most senior person of a group sharing the same rank or office.When not used in reference to a specific title, it may indicate that the person so described is formally equal, but looked upon as an authority of special importance by their peers...
, with no power above and beyond her six colleagues.
Following a reshuffle of portfolios after the by-election of two new councilors in 2010
Swiss Federal Council election, 2010
Two by-elections to the Swiss Federal Council were held in Switzerland on 22 September 2010, after Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger announced he would leave the Federal Council as of December 31, 2010. as well as incumbent Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz announced his intention to retire...
, Leuthard replaced outgoing Moritz Leuenberger
Moritz Leuenberger
Moritz Leuenberger is a Swiss politician, lawyer, was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1995 to 2010 and President of the Confederation in 2001 and in 2006....
at the head of the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications.
See also
- Swiss Federal Council elections of 14 June 2006
- List of current Vice Presidents
External links
- Address by Doris Leuthard (as President of Switzerland) at the General Debate of the 65th Session of the General Assembly of the United Nations, 23 September 2010: video (in French); written translation of the statement into English
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