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Written with AI assistance•January 2, 2026•
AI
Generated IllustrationGuy Parmelin begins his second term as Swiss president. An interview reveals his priorities for the coming year, from new partnerships to global challenges, complemented by a look at the new official Federal Council portrait which aims to reflect a youth perspective.
"We need to expand our network of partnerships, but the United States remains an indispensable partner for Switzerland."
"I often say that I am living through my fifth crisis."
Guy Parmelin has stormed back into the presidency with a staggering 203 votes out of 210 valid ballots—a crushing endorsement that marks the best presidential election result in four decades. This is not merely a procedural rotation; it is a mandate of steel for the SVP minister as he begins his second term at the helm of the Confederation. After ten years in the government, Parmelin’s popularity among parliamentarians is undeniable, fueled by his expansive portfolio covering agriculture, education, and economic affairs, which embeds him deeply in the machinery of Swiss governance.
While critics speculate this may be his final year in the Federal Council, Parmelin remains defiant. He dismisses talk of retirement with the confidence of a seasoned operator, asserting his commitment to the full legislative period. "As long as I have the passion," he declares, he will remain. This political durability provides a critical anchor for Switzerland as it faces a world order in flux, signaling to both domestic and international observers that Bern is prioritizing continuity and experience over uncertainty.
Switzerland is doubling down on Washington. In a bold foreign policy declaration, President Parmelin has labeled the United States an "indispensable partner," signaling a clear priority to solidify trade ties despite the unpredictable geopolitical climate. The stakes are incredibly high. With the specter of US tariffs looming, Parmelin is not waiting for permission; he is aggressively pursuing a legally binding tariff agreement to replace current non-binding declarations.
The President's strategy is pragmatic and urgent. He acknowledges the volatility of American politics, particularly under the shadow of Donald Trump's influence, yet insists that when Switzerland commits, "it keeps its word." The federal government has already prepared a draft mandate and consulted with cantons, moving with unprecedented speed to lock in economic security. This is a high-wire act of diplomacy: balancing the need to diversify global partnerships while tethering the Swiss economy firmly to the American engine. For Parmelin, the private sector generates the wealth, but the state must ruthlessly negotiate the path for that wealth to flow.
Parmelin is not just a president; he is a crisis manager. He describes his tenure as a relentless succession of five major global shocks: the Covid-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the energy security crunch, the collapse of Credit Suisse, and now, the looming threat of US trade wars. "I learned that you have to be prepared for anything," he asserts, reflecting a governance style hardened by fire.
This "fifth crisis" mentality drives his agenda for 2026. The focus is no longer just on growth, but on resilience and stabilization. Parmelin argues that the best outcome for Switzerland is a global economic leveling-off that allows Swiss exports to thrive. His leadership style has evolved from reactive to proactive, seeking to reconcile the often-clashing worlds of business imperatives and political necessities. By framing the economy as the engine of social welfare, he is positioning his presidency as the guardian of the Swiss standard of living against a backdrop of perpetual global disorder.
In a striking break from tradition, the official 2026 Federal Council portrait abandons the stiff, conventional aesthetic of the past. Parmelin commissioned four photography students—Nathan Bugniet, Eileen Fraefel, Samantha Keller, and Léo Margueron—from the Vevey vocational school to capture the government's image. The result is a composite overlay that places the seven ministers and the Federal Chancellor in the Salon de la Présidence, but with a twist: the students themselves appear in the frame.
This is a deliberate symbolic move. By integrating the creators into the creation, Parmelin is forcing a "perspective of the younger generation" onto the highest echelon of Swiss power. It transforms the annual ritual—of which 35,000 copies are printed—from a mere souvenir into a statement on transparency and vocational training. It signals that the government is not an isolated ivory tower, but a body that must remain accessible and visible to the youth who will inherit its decisions. The image is authentic, collaborative, and undeniably modern.