Swiss Confederation got a new head of a state, Simonetta Sommaruga of the Socialist Party took over the Swiss presidency on Wednesday.
Switzerland approved its unique “magic formula” in 1959, since then, cabinet positions are shared between the four largest parties: the SVP, the Socialists, the right-leaning Free Democratic Party (PLR) and centrist Christian Democrats.
On January 1st, 2020, a Cabinet member Simonetta Sommaruga of the Socialists took over the Alpine nation presidency, a largely ceremonial role that rotates between most powerful political parties. Sommaruga took over the presidency from Finance Minister Ueli Maurer of the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP).
Mrs Sommaruga is 59, she is an experienced politician. Now, she is the Minister for environment, transport, energy and communication in Switzerland’s seven-member Federal Council. This council is the executive branch in the wealthy European state.
Simonetta Sommaruga has sat on the council since 2010, previously being a chief of the Swiss Justice Ministry.
In October 2019, the Green Party made historic gains at federal elections, prompting calls that it now deserved a Swiss Cabinet seat, but it has not yet managed to secure a place in the executive branch. This week, Switzerland has a new president but none probably didn’t notice. The ‘magic formula’ in its action is a rather wise political and organizational decision, in fact.
