Guy Parmelin
Guy Bernard Parmelin (French pronunciation: [ɡi bɛʁnaʁ paʁməlɛ̃]; born 9 November 1959) is a Swiss politician, who served as president of Switzerland in 2021, having previously served as vice president of Switzerland in 2020. A member of the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC), he has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2016. Parmelin has served as head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research since 2019, previously heading the Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports between 2016 and 2018.[1]
Guy Parmelin | |
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2023 | |
| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2021 – 31 December 2021 | |
| Vice President | Ignazio Cassis |
| Preceded by | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Succeeded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2020 – 31 December 2020 | |
| President | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Preceded by | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Succeeded by | Ignazio Cassis |
| Head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research | |
| Assumed office 1 January 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Johann Schneider-Ammann |
| Head of the Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports | |
| In office 1 January 2016 – 31 December 2018 | |
| Preceded by | Ueli Maurer |
| Succeeded by | Viola Amherd |
| Member of the Swiss Federal Council | |
| Assumed office 1 January 2016 | |
| Preceded by | Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf |
| Member of the Swiss National Council | |
| In office 1 December 2003 – 31 December 2015 | |
| Parliamentary group | Swiss People's Party |
| Constituency | Vaud |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Guy Bernard Parmelin 9 November 1959 Bursins, Vaud, Switzerland |
| Political party | Swiss People's Party |
| Spouse | Caroline Merotto (m. 1995) |
Biography Edit
Early political career Edit
A master wine grower by trade, he was elected to the Grand Council of Vaud from 1994 until 2003, when he was elected to the National Council for the canton of Vaud.[1] From 2000 to 2004, Parmelin was also president of the Swiss People's Party of the canton of Vaud. On 9 December 2015, he was elected by the Federal Assembly to the Federal Council in replacement of Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.[2][3]
Member of the Federal Council Edit
After the Swiss People's Party won a record vote of over 29% in the 2015 general election, Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf announced she would not run for reelection.[4][5] She had been expelled from the SVP/UDC shortly after her election and then founded the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD). The SVP/UDC was expected to take Widmer-Schlumpf's seat; it put forward three candidates, including Parmelin, who was ultimately elected.[6]
Parmelin became the first SVP/UDC Federal Councillor from the French-speaking part of Switzerland.[6][7] He was selected to become head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, replacing fellow party member Ueli Maurer, who became head of the Federal Department of Finance.[8] Starting in 2019, Parmelin became the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research. He served as Vice President of Switzerland for 2020. He assumed the presidency on 1 January 2021 along Vice President Ignazio Cassis.[9][10][11][12]
On 16 June 2021, as President of Switzerland, Parmelin hosted the 2021 Russia–United States summit at Villa La Grange in Geneva between Vladimir Putin and Joe Biden. He wished them "a fruitful dialogue, in the interests of [their] two countries, and the world".[13]
References Edit
- ^ a b (in French) Biography of Guy Parmelin on the website of the Swiss Parliament. (Page visited on 9 December 2015).
- ^ (in French) Bernard Wuthrich, "Conseil fédéral: comment un Romand s’est retrouvé élu", Le Temps, Wednesday 9 December 2015 (page visited on 9 December 2015).
- ^ (in French) Yves Petignat, "Le choix de Parmelin, un désaveu pour la direction de l'UDC", Le Temps, Wednesday 9 December 2015 (page visited on 9 December 2015).
- ^ Jaberg, Samuel; Stephens, Thomas (28 October 2015). "Finance Minister Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf to Stand Down". Swissinfo. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ Geiser, Urs (19 October 2015). "Parliament Shifts to the Right". Swissinfo. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ a b Mombelli, Armando (10 December 2015). "People's Party Gains Second Seat in Cabinet". Swissinfo. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ Bradley, Simon (10 December 2015). "Wary Press Split Over Farmer Parmelin". Swissinfo. Retrieved 10 December 2015.
- ^ "People's Party finally nails finance minister job". Swissinfo. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
- ^ "Swiss president: 'We must not give up'". SWI swissinfo.ch.
- ^ "Switzerland elects new president from 2021" (PDF). www.thelocal.ch. 9 December 2020. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
- ^ MILLARD, Robin. "Parmelin Confirmed As Next Swiss President". www.barrons.com.
- ^ "Guy Parmelin, le président équilibriste". Le Temps (in French). 14 January 2021 – via www.letemps.ch.
- ^ "Swiss President Parmelin welcomes Biden and Putin". Swiss Info. 16 June 2021 – via www.swissinfo.ch.
External links Edit
- Profile of Guy Parmelin with election results on the website of the Swiss Federal Council.
- Biography of Guy Parmelin on the website of the Swiss Parliament.