Federal Council election Valais State Councillor Darbellay considers Federal Council candidacy

SDA

20.1.2025 - 14:19

Valais State Councillor Christophe Darbellay is "seriously" considering a candidacy to succeed Viola Amherd in the Federal Council. (archive photo)
Valais State Councillor Christophe Darbellay is "seriously" considering a candidacy to succeed Viola Amherd in the Federal Council. (archive photo)
Keystone

Valais State Councillor Christophe Darbellay can imagine running to succeed Viola Amherd in the Federal Council. "I'm seriously thinking about it," he told the Valais daily newspaper "Le Nouvelliste" on Monday.

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He will take his time to consider a candidacy and discuss it with his party and his family, Darbellay continued in the newspaper interview. However, the centrist politician is maintaining his candidacy for a third term in the Valais cantonal government next 2 March for the time being.

"Contrary to what many people say, becoming a federal councillor was never a goal in itself," Darbellay continued. The timing was not ideal. However, he believes that you have to seize an opportunity when it presents itself.

The 54-year-old Darbellay has been a member of the Cantonal Council of Valais since 2017. He was a member of the National Council from 2003 to 2015 and chaired the then Swiss CVP from 2006 to 2016.

Darbellay would be the fifth Federal Councillor from Valais after Josef Escher (CVP, 1950-1954), Roger Bonvin (CVP, 1962-1973), Pascal Couchepin (FDP, 1998-2009) and Viola Amherd (Die Mitte, 2018-2024).