Switzerland's parliament elected Keller-Sutter as the country's president

The Swiss Parliament has elected 60-year-old Karin Keller-Sutter, who holds the post of Minister of Finance of the Republic, as president of the country for 2025. This was announced on December 11 by the press service of the department on its website.

"Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter will become president of the Swiss Confederation next year. Parliament elected the liberal woman from St. Gallen on Wednesday with 168 out of 203 valid votes," - stated in the publication.

It is noted that the result of her votes is "below average", as was the case with a number of previous heads of state.

The parliament emphasized that out of 232 ballots 23 were not filled in, 6 were invalid, and another 35 votes went to other candidates.

In Switzerland, the head of state is elected by the parliament from among the members of the Federal Council (government) for one year without the right to re-election for the next term. Previously, the presidential post was held by Viola Amherd.

Earlier, on December 3, Switzerland's National Council (lower house of parliament) approved a 530 million franc ($598 million) increase in investment in the country's defense in 2025. The goal of the National Council is that by 2030, spending on the army will reach 1% of gross domestic product (GDP).

Prior to that, on November 30, Mauro Poggia, a senator from the largest party in the Swiss parliament, the Democratic Union of the Center (UDC), said that moving troops or weapons from European countries through Switzerland would be a gross violation of the country's neutrality.

On November 23, the largest party in the Swiss parliament, the Democratic Union of the Center, opposed new aid to Ukraine. The UDC rejected proposals to increase humanitarian aid to Ukraine through emergency spending.