Didier Burkhalter

Didier Burkhalter
Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
In office
1 January 2014  31 December 2014
Preceded byLeonid Kozhara
Succeeded byIvica Dačić
President of Switzerland
In office
1 January 2014  31 December 2014
Vice PresidentSimonetta Sommaruga
Preceded byUeli Maurer
Succeeded bySimonetta Sommaruga
Vice President of Switzerland
In office
1 January 2013  31 December 2013
PresidentUeli Maurer
Preceded byUeli Maurer
Succeeded bySimonetta Sommaruga
Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs
In office
1 January 2012  31 October 2017
Preceded byMicheline Calmy-Rey
Succeeded byIgnazio Cassis
Head of the Department of Home Affairs
In office
1 November 2009  31 December 2011
Preceded byPascal Couchepin
Succeeded byAlain Berset
Member of the Swiss Federal Council
In office
1 November 2009  31 October 2017
Preceded byPascal Couchepin
Succeeded byIgnazio Cassis
Personal details
Born
Didier Eric Burkhalter

(1960-04-17) 17 April 1960
Auvernier, Switzerland
Political partyFree Democratic Party (until 2009)
FDP.The Liberals (since 2009)
SpouseFriedrun Sabine Burkhalter
Children3
Alma materUniversity of Neuchâtel

Didier Eric Burkhalter (born 17 April 1960) is a Swiss politician who served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2009 to 2017. A member of FDP.The Liberals, he was President of the Swiss Confederation in 2014.

Burkhalter was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 16 September 2009; he succeeded Pascal Couchepin on 1 November 2009 when he became head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs. From 1 January 2012 to 31 October 2017, he served as head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs. As President of the Swiss Confederation, he served as Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2014. He left the Federal Council on 31 October 2017.