Meet the Swiss Federal Council 2017

The release of the Swiss Federal Council's official photo for 2017 on New Year’s Eve caused quite a stir in the media, even becoming a trending topic on twitter. Creative minds were quick to publish inventive versions of the original portraits taken by photographer Beat Mumenthaler.

The original version

An adapted "nice" version

The Swiss government comprises seven members to form the Federal Council. The president is elected for a one-year term of office and is regarded during that time as ‘Primus inter pares’, or first among equals.

The Swiss Government has revamped its official website where you can find information about the Swiss Government and a restricted amount of news in English. Personally, I do think this year's photo is a great deal more stylish than in past years. So let's look at the bright side, the Swiss Federal Council are definitely making an effort.

Someone decided to adapt the official photo into a video showing the Federal Council singing ‘Bernhemian Rhapsody’. See the result for yourself:

Test your Swiss civic knowledge

Go online and click here to test your Civic knowledge of the Swiss Confederation.

10 random questions need to be answered and they are not easy. Answers are given immediately with cheat sheets for further in-depth infromation.

Would you know the answer to the following question:
«A general strike occurred in Switzerland following WW I (1914-1918). The strikers demands for old-age pensions or a 48-hour work week were rejected. When was the state pension introduced in Switzerland (following approval by 80% of the popular vote)?»

The answer is 1947 and can be looked up in the Federal Consitution which is the supreme legislative act of the Confederation and forms the legal foundation for all other legislation and for the federal structure of the state. It regulates the fundamental rights and duties of citizens and of the entire population as well as the structure and powers of the federal authorities. Any total revision or amendment (partial revision) of the Federal Constitution must be submitted to the People and the cantons for approval (mandatory referendum).

Members of the Swiss Federal Council

To start off the new year on a good informative note, can you guess (because very few people in Switzerland actually KNOW) who our 7 Swiss councelors are? Who is this year's President of the Swiss Confederation?

The Swiss government consists of the seven members of the Federal Council who are elected by the United Federal Assembly for a four-year term. The President of the Swiss Confederation is elected for just one year and is regarded as Primus inter pares, or first among equals during that time. He chairs the sessions of the Federal Council and untertakes special ceremonial duties. Federal Chancellor Corina Casanova acts as the Federal Council's chief of staff.

The members of the Federal Council (from left to right on the photo below) are:
Federal Councillor Johann N. Schneider-Ammann
Federal Councillor Didier Burkhalter
Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard
President Micheline Calmy-Rey
Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (Vice-President)
Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer
Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga
Federal Chancellor Corina Casanova