The new Swiss president, Doris Leuthard, and the Federal Council

Geneva, Switzerland – I arrived back to Geneva this week to find a new (yearly) president: Doris Leuthard.  Madame President Leuthard and the seemingly new Conseil Federal seem ready to work. Great!

Now, if I could only keep it straight, exactly how often do we change presidents? Or, is the word president a correct term to designate Ms. Leuthard? What about the Conseil? What do they do, exactly?

Well, the Federal Council has published several brochures, in French, German and Italian, geared to explain the functioning of the Swiss political institutions, the Swiss Constitution and other Swiss matters.

These all are interesting readings that may make you feel more at home. Or at least, can help explain the democratic system of our host country.

The brochures are free and can be requested online, by phone or by mail.

By the way, the new picture – shown here at left – is the idea of the new president. I learned in one of the booklets that each President gets to call “the shot” literally speaking. An image is worth more than a thousand words. Mmm, can you tell what those words would say?

Happy reading!

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