page_title: Federal Council (Switzerland)
section_title: List of firsts in the Federal Council
hierarchical_section_title: Federal Council (Switzerland) / List of firsts in the Federal Council
caption_attribution_description: English: The first Swiss Federal Council, elected on November 16, 1848. Top: Josef Munzinger Center (from left to right): Ulrich Ochsenbein, Jonas Furrer, Henri Druey Bottom (from left to right): Stefano Franscini, Friedrich Frey-Herosé, Wilhelm Matthias Naeff Deutsch: Der erste Bundesrat der Schweiz, gewählt am 16. November 1848. Oben: Josef Munzinger 1. Reihe v. l.: Ulrich Ochsenbein, Jonas Furrer, Henri Druey 2. Reihe v. l.: Stefano Franscini, Friedrich Frey-Herosé, Wilhelm Matthias Naeff Français&#160;: Le premier Conseil fédéral de Suisse, élu le 16 novembre 1848. Derrière&#160;: Josef Munzinger Au centre (de gauche à droite)&#160;: Ulrich Ochsenbein, Jonas Furrer, Daniel-Henri Druey Devant (de gauche à droite)&#160;: Stefano Franscini, Friedrich Frey-Herosé, Wilhelm Matthias Naeff
context_page_description: The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council that constitutes the federal government of the Swiss Confederation and serves as the collective head of state and government of Switzerland.
  While the entire council is responsible for leading the federal administration of Switzerland, each councillor heads one of the seven federal executive departments. The position of President of the Swiss Confederation rotates among the seven councillors on a yearly basis, with one year's Vice President of the Federal Council becoming the next year's Confederation President. Simonetta Sommaruga has been the incumbent officeholder since 1 January 2020.
context_section_description: 1848: The first seven members elected: Ulrich Ochsenbein, Jonas Furrer, Martin J. Munzinger, Henri Druey, Friedrich Frey-Herosé, Wilhelm Matthias Naeff and Stefano Franscini.
  1854: First (of only four so far) sitting Federal Councillors not to be reelected, Ulrich Ochsenbein.
  1891: First Councillor of the Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland, Josef Zemp.
  1893: First member whose father was a member of the Council: Eugène Ruffy, son of Victor Ruffy. In 2007, the 2nd is elected: Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, the daughter of Leon Schlumpf.
  1911: First (and only) octogenarian in office, Adolf Deucher (FDP).
  1913: First (and only) native Romansh speaker, Felix Calonder (FDP).
  1917: First (and only) Councillor of the Liberal Party elected, Gustave Ador.
  1930: First Councillor of the Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents (BGB/PAI; now the Swiss People's Party), Rudolf Minger.
  1943: First Councillor of the Social Democratic Party, Ernst Nobs.
  1983: First female candidate for the Council from a government party, Lilian Uchtenhagen (SP).
  1984: First woman Councillor, Elisabeth Kopp (FDP).
  1993: First Jewish Councillor, Ruth Dreifuss (SP).
  1995: First Councillor living in a domestic partnership, Moritz Leuenberger (SP) (with architect Gret Loewensberg, whom he later married).
  1999: First woman President of the Confederation, Ruth Dreifuss (SP).
  2010: First Majority of women in the Swiss Federal Council with the election of Simonetta Sommaruga (SP).
caption: The first seven members, elected 1848
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