Gerhard Pfister to Open Next Legislative Session as President of the Swiss People’s Party
Published: Monday, Oct 23rd 2023, 14:30
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On December 4th, Gerhard Pfister, President of the Swiss People's Party, will open the next legislative period in the National Council. This is due to him being the longest-serving member of the National Council, according to the Parliamentary Services in response to an inquiry. The 61-year-old Zuger has been actively involved in politics in the Grand Chamber since December 1, 2003, and is now embarking on his sixth legislative term beginning in December. His task is to appoint a provisional office with nine members, as the Parliamentary Services website states. In the event of a tie between the terms of office of Zurich's Green Liberal Martin Bäumle and the Swiss People's Party's Ueli Pfister, the regulations have a solution: the elder of the two is appointed as the President. Therefore, the two-year older Pfister has precedence. The provisional office will preside over the newly constituted National Council until the new President of the Council is elected. This is expected to be Eric Nussbaumer (SP/BL), who is currently the first Vice President of the National Council. The planning of the upcoming winter session is not the responsibility of the provisional office. This task is taken on by the current council office, which will remain in office until the start of the session. The next legislature will be the 52nd since the founding of the modern federal state. In contrast to the National Council, the Council of States does not have an Elder President or Elder Presidentess according to the Parliamentary Services. This is because the small chamber does not have general renewal elections; its members are elected according to the requirements of their cantons of origin. ©Keystone/SDA
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