Walter Thurnherr Energy and Communications in 2011 as her chief of staff. He stood for election to succeed Corina Casanova as Federal Chancellor of Switzerland on 9 December 2015, as the first unopposed candidate in ninety years, and was elected by the Swiss Federal Assembly with 230 votes (out of 234 possible). He assumed office on 1 January 2016. Walter Thurnherr Walter Thurnherr (born 11 July 1963) is the Federal Chancellor of Switzerland since 1 January 2016. Born in Muri, Thurnherr graduated as a physicist at the ETH Zürich. In 1989, he joined the ranks of Switzerland's diplomatic corps. In 2002, he
2010 Swiss Federal Council election Wyss. Wyss ultimately became the Green candidate for the seat. The following were nominated as official candidates for Leuenberger's seat: The following candidates will stand for Merz' seat: 2010 Swiss Federal Council election Two by-elections to the Swiss Federal Council were held in Switzerland on 22 September 2010, after Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger (SP) announced he would leave the Federal Council effective 31 December 2010 and Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz (FDP.The Liberals) on 6 August 2010 announced his intention to retire effective late October 2010. Elected were Simonetta Sommaruga and Johann Schneider-Ammann. The Green Party and the Swiss People's Party