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Keystone
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On December 11, Simonetta Sommaruga was elected Federal President. She takes office on January 1, 2020.
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Keystone
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No premiere for Sommaruga – she was once Federal President in 2015.
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Peter Gerber
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Dignity is associated with office – and burden.
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REUTERS
9.10
The meetings are not always so pleasant: headlines were made in December 2015 by the “kiss” with which the then EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker Sommaruga considered.
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keystone-sda.ch
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Nevertheless, the SP politician is looking forward to the office: on the day of her election with stepson Jonas Lehmann, (2nd from left) and husband Lukas Hartmann.
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On January 1, 2020, SP wife Simmonetta Sommaruga (59) took over from Ueli Maurer (69, SVP) as head of government in Switzerland. For a year, Sommaruga will become the Prima inter pares – first among equals – in the state government.
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Sommaruga is already familiar with the role, having officiated as Federal President in 2015. And so she also knows that all kinds of duties and privileges are associated with the post. These are also recorded in the so-called Aide-mémoire for the members of the Federal Council.
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12,000 francs wage increase
The federal councils will have an inflation compensation of 0.5 percent as of 2020: the gross annual income of a federal council from January 1 will be CHF 454,581.45. In addition, there is a lump sum for expenses of CHF 30,000 per year. The Federal President can also look forward to another additional 12,000 francs in her presidential year! For the whole year, not every month.
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Sommaruga represents the Federal Council at home and abroad in 2019. In principle, it can participate in all international conferences and accept invitations from heads of state and heads of government. Sommaruga, for example, will take part in the G20 summit of the most powerful countries in Saudi Arabia in November, Her bricklayer provided the invitation – this is how it works in greed.
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Sommaruga’s domestic duties usually include one or two state visits and other official visits such as courtesy visits. The program also includes the New Year’s reception of the foreign ambassadors and two occasions with the diplomatic corps. In addition, the credentials are handed over to foreign ambassadors, which the Federal President also carries out.
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Lots of speeches …
Some presidential tasks with a representative character also belong to Sommaruga’s program: For example, the New Year’s speech, a presidential dinner with the Bundeshaus and the foreign press, the August 1 speeches “to the Swiss people” and “to the Swiss Abroad” or the speech to Day of the sick.
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So that the burden does not become too great, the Federal Council can entrust its other members and the Federal Chancellor with representation tasks.
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Chair of the meeting in Bern and «extra muros»
As President of the Swiss Confederation, the Bernese Social Democrat usually leads the weekly Federal Council meetings. Together with the Federal Chancellery, she is also responsible for «optimal session preparation for an efficient and result-oriented session process». The state government makes its decisions on these.
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However, if an extraordinary decision-making process has to be carried out due to a special situation, the Federal President, in consultation with the Federal Chancellery, decides whether an extraordinary meeting or a conference call is to be called – or whether the whole thing can be dealt with using the circular procedure.
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In urgent cases, she decides alone
In urgent emergencies, Sommaruga may also make so-called presidential decisions alone – but must have them approved by the colleagues afterwards.
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It also determines whether and when Federal Council meetings are held “extra muros” – outside of Bern. In 2019, for example, we went to Zurich, Maurer’s home canton.
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Sommaruga becomes a tour guide
Once a year, the Federal President becomes a tour guide. That is when the annual Federal Council trip is due. At least in the first presidential year, she presents her canton of origin to her colleagues.
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In the case of a further term of office, the choice of the cantons visited is optional. This time Sommaruga has full freedom of choice as to where the “Schulreisli” should go. Will she leave Bern behind?
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Presidential donation of CHF 5000
Sommaruga has a particularly nice privilege this year: it can donate 5,000 francs from the presidential fund “to support people in need or charities” – at their own discretion.
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In her first presidential year in 2015, she showed a heart for the deaf and donated the 5,000 francs to the Deaf Association – for projects that improve access for deaf people to political information and thus to direct democracy.
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