Swiss parliament elects Social Democrat from Basel to replace President Alain Berset

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - The Swiss parliament on Wednesday elected to its seven-person Federal Council Beat Jans from the Social Democratic Party to replace Alain Berset, the outgoing president, who is stepping down from politics at the end of the year.

The seven members of the council from the main political parties in parliament form the Swiss government, also a mini-cabinet.

The election took place in three rounds of voting, with Jans beating two other members of his party.

The Swiss president is elected for a one-year term and is considered first among equals during that time. Traditionally, the position rotates among members based on their seniority.

Swissinfo reported that Jans, 59, grew up in Riehen, near Basel, in a working-class family, did an apprenticeship as a farmer, and later studied environmental science at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich.

The website of national broadcaster Swissinfo said the city of Basel borders Germany and France, making his home canton the most European city in Switzerland, and Jans very familiar with Swiss-EU ties.

Jans previously served as head of the Basel canton government for around three years and is a former federal parliamentarian and vice president of the Social Democratic Party, one of the parties in the seven-person government.​​​​​​​