Didier Burkhalter

Didier Burkhalter
Chair of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe
In office 1 January 2014 – 31 December 2014
Preceded by	Leonid Kozhara
Succeeded by	Ivica Dačić
President of Switzerland
In office 1 January 2014 – 31 December 2014
Vice President	Simonetta Sommaruga
Preceded by	Ueli Maurer
Succeeded by	Simonetta Sommaruga
Vice President of Switzerland
In office 1 January 2013 – 31 December 2013
President	Ueli Maurer
Preceded by	Ueli Maurer
Succeeded by	Simonetta Sommaruga
Head of the Department of Foreign Affairs
In office 1 January 2012 – 31 October 2017
Preceded by	Micheline Calmy-Rey
Succeeded by	Ignazio Cassis
Head of the Department of Home Affairs
In office 1 November 2009 – 31 December 2011
Preceded by	Pascal Couchepin
Succeeded by	Alain Berset
Member of the Swiss Federal Council
In office 1 November 2009 – 31 October 2017
Preceded by	Pascal Couchepin
Succeeded by	Ignazio Cassis
Personal details
Born	Didier Eric Burkhalter (1960-04-17) 17 April 1960 (age 64) Auvernier, Switzerland
Political party	Free Democratic Party (until 2009) FDP.The Liberals (since 2009)
Spouse	Friedrun Sabine Burkhalter
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Neuchâtel

Didier Eric Burkhalter (born 17 April 1960) is a Swiss politician who served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2009 to 2017. A member of FDP.The Liberals, he was President of the Swiss Confederation in 2014.

Burkhalter was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 16 September 2009; he succeeded Pascal Couchepin on 1 November 2009 when he became head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs. From 1 January 2012 to 31 October 2017, he served as head of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs.^[1] As President of the Swiss Confederation, he served as Chairman-in-Office of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in 2014. He left the Federal Council on 31 October 2017.^[2]