Swiss President Announces Resignation at Year-End

Swiss President Alain Berset announced on Wednesday that he will step down at the end of the year, leaving the multi-party government after 11 years. During a press conference in Bern, Berset stated, "This is not a resignation, but an announcement that I will not run again after the current legislative term," referring to the Swiss general elections scheduled for October. He added, "If I stayed for more than 12 years, that would be too long, and then you would consider that one cannot do without you... institutions are more important than individuals." He indicated that he has no concrete plans after leaving the government, aside from practicing yoga. Berset held the positions of Minister of Health and Minister of the Interior and oversaw the country's plan to combat the COVID-19 pandemic; he is a member of the Social Democratic Party, which leans to the left.