A diplomatic president.
| Auteur | Studer, Lukas |
| Fonction | People: presidency |
The year 2014 will see Foreign Minister Didier Burkhalter cementing his international relationships and influence, both in his new role as President and as Chairperson in Office of the Organisation for Security & Cooperation in Europe.
The OSCE chairmanship is held by a state, rather than an individual, and decided annually by consensus of its 56 member countries, much as the Swiss presidency rotates among the Federal Council as "first among equals".
It does however give Burkhalter an unusual level of influence for a Swiss president, added to the personal Influence he already established through undertaking half of the official state visits abroad this year, instead of Ueli Maurer.
The agreement with Maurer was designed to build longer-term relationships than are usually possible for Swiss leaders. "We suffer indeed a disadvantage in that the presidency changes each year," Maurer said. By enabling upcoming president Burkhalter, who after all headed the Foreign Ministry, to undertake some of the visits, he argued, "we achieve more continuity in our foreign affairs".
Burkhalter, a member of the centre-right party FDP. The Liberals, did not begin his career in the Federal Council as Foreign Minister. In September 2009, he was elected to replace Pascal Couchepin, the former chief of the Home Affairs department. This appointment meant tackling the difficult legacy of his predecessor, including the reformation of the healthcare system. When in 2011 he handed the Home Department to newly elected Social Democratic councillor Alain Berset in order to take over the Foreign Ministry, Burkhalter described his relief at the move by saying "I could open the window."
Focus on international security and stability
In his statement for the closing session of the OCSE last month, Burkhalter outlined the priorities for the Swiss chairmanship programme as being to foster security...
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