Federal Councillors Canton of Fribourg celebrates its new National Council President
The new President of the National Council, Pierre-André Page (SVP), was given a festive reception in his home canton of Fribourg on Wednesday. After a stopover in Flamatt, a special train took Page and his guests via Bulle to Romont.
03.12.2025, 14:31
03.12.2025, 19:38
SDA
There, the official ceremony was on the program. On Wednesday morning, the "highest Swiss citizen" chaired the National Council debate in the Federal Palace.
At 12.36, a special train departed from Bern, taking Page and numerous guests from politics, business and society to the 65-year-old Fribourg native's home canton. The guests were treated to a sumptuous "picnic from the region" in the saloon car.
Shortly after crossing the cantonal border, the special train made its first stop in Flamatt, where Page was greeted by the local authorities. The special train arrived in Bulle at 2 p.m., where the new President of the National Council enjoyed a dip in the crowd and met the locals for an aperitif. The train then set off for Romont.
Among the guests in Romont were SVP Federal Councillor Albert Rösti, the Fribourg State Council in corpore, the Fribourg politicians in Bern and the General Director of SBB, Vincent Ducrot, also from Fribourg. The population came together for an aperitif. The President of the National Council took part in the drinks reception surrounded by fellow citizens.
Speeches were given by the President of the State Council Jean-François Steiert, the outgoing President of the National Council Maja Riniker (FDP/AG) and the Mayor of Romont, Jean-Claude Cornu, as well as Federal Councillor Rösti and the Schwyz National Councillor and SVP President Marcel Dettling.
No stop in Fribourg
Page did not stop in the cantonal capital of Fribourg. "We can't go everywhere," explained the politician, who comes from near Romont. He also wanted to "express his attachment to the south of the canton of Fribourg".
Page comes from Châtonnaye, a village around ten kilometers from Romont. In the capital of the Glâne district, a parade was on the program at around 4 pm. This was to be followed by a ceremony and dinner.
Page has been a member of the National Council since 2015. In 2019 and 2023, he was the best elected or re-elected representative from Fribourg. The now retired master farmer is married and the father of three grown-up children as well as a grandfather. He was also mayor of Châtonnaye between 2002 and 2006 and President of the Grand Council in 2009.
On Monday, the farmer was elected President of the National Council. He is the sixth Fribourg citizen to receive this honor. The last Fribourg President of the National Council was Dominique de Buman in 2017/18.
