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Candidacy for the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe
On 10 January 2024, ten days after leaving the Federal Council, Alain Berset declares his interest in the post of Secretary General of the Council of Europe. The Federal Department of Foreign Affairs supports the candidacy and submits it the same day, the last day of the deadline, to the Chair of the Committee of Ministers. The covering letter is signed by Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis; it highlights his experience “in the highest executive offices” and the implementation of the priorities of the Reykjavík Summit, where he had signed the final declaration on behalf of Switzerland.
The stakes are unprecedented: no Swiss has ever led the Strasbourg organisation, of which Switzerland has been a member since 1963. The election falls to the Parliamentary Assembly, from a list drawn up by the Committee of Ministers, in June; the start of the term of office is set for 18 September 2024. On 22 January, in Strasbourg, the Swiss delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly gives the candidacy its unanimous support.
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