Alain Berset

Alain Berset
Official portrait, 2023
Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Assumed office
18 September 2024
Preceded byMarija Pejčinović Burić
President of Switzerland
In office
1 January 2023  31 December 2023
Vice PresidentViola Amherd
Preceded byIgnazio Cassis
Succeeded byViola Amherd
In office
1 January 2018  31 December 2018
Vice PresidentUeli Maurer
Preceded byDoris Leuthard
Succeeded byUeli Maurer
Vice President of Switzerland
In office
1 January 2022  31 December 2022
PresidentIgnazio Cassis
Preceded byIgnazio Cassis
Succeeded byViola Amherd
In office
1 January 2017  31 December 2017
PresidentDoris Leuthard
Preceded byDoris Leuthard
Succeeded byUeli Maurer
Swiss Federal Councillor
In office
1 January 2012  31 December 2023
DepartmentHome Affairs
Preceded byMicheline Calmy-Rey
Succeeded byBeat Jans
President of the Council of States
In office
1 December 2008  23 November 2009
Preceded byChristoffel Brändli
Succeeded byErika Forster-Vannini
Personal details
Born (1972-04-09) 9 April 1972
Fribourg, Switzerland
Political partySocial Democratic Party
Spouse
Muriel Zeender
(m. 2002)
Children3
ResidenceBelfaux, Switzerland
EducationUniversity of Neuchâtel (BA, MA, PhD)
Signature
Websitealainberset.ch
parlament.ch/de/biografie/alain-berset/1161

Alain Berset (French pronunciation: [alɛ̃ bɛʁsɛ]; born 9 April 1972) is a Swiss politician who served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2012 to 2023. A member of the Social Democratic Party (SP/PS), he headed the Federal Department of Home Affairs from when he took office. Berset served as President of the Swiss Confederation for 2018 and 2023.

On 25 June 2024, Berset was elected Secretary General of the Council of Europe, and assumed his role on 18 September 2024 succeeding Marija Pejčinović Burić.