Albert Rösti
MinistreFederal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC)
SVP/UDC (Swiss People's Party) · Suisse
Profil rédigé en anglais
Albert Rösti is a Swiss politician and businessman who has served as a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 1 January 2023, heading the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC/UVEK). Born on 7 August 1967 in Kandersteg, canton of Bern, into a Protestant mountain-farming family, he trained as an agronomist at ETH Zurich, where he earned a doctorate (1997), and later completed an MBA at the University of Rochester / Rochester-Bern (2002). He worked as an agricultural-studies teacher, deputy then secretary general of the Bern cantonal Department of Economic Affairs, director of the Swiss Milk Producers (Swissmilk), and from 2013 ran his own business and political consultancy, Büro Dr. Rösti GmbH. He was president of the SVP of canton Bern and national president of the SVP from 2016 to 2020. He sat in the National Council for Bern from 2011 to 2022, and before his election held numerous board and lobbying mandates, including the presidency of the fuel-traders' association Swissoil. He was elected to the Federal Council on 7 December 2022, succeeding Ueli Maurer.
Historique électoral
Swiss Federal Council by-election 2022
Member of the Federal Council (SVP seat, succeeding Ueli Maurer)2022-12-07
Elected (first round)
131 of 243 valid votes
face à Hans-Ueli Vogt (SVP), who received 98 votes
Elected by the United Federal Assembly on 7 December 2022 in the first round to succeed retiring SVP Federal Councillor Ueli Maurer. Took office 1 January 2023.
Swiss Federal Council election 2015
Member of the Federal Council2015-11
Withdrew candidacy
Nominated by the Bern SVP in November 2015 as a Federal Council candidate but withdrew his candidacy two weeks later.
Source :en.wikipedia.orgSwiss federal elections (National Council, canton Bern) 2015 and 2019
Member of the National Council (canton Bern)2015 / 2019
Re-elected
Re-elected to the National Council, serving continuously until 31 December 2022, when he stepped down following his election to the Federal Council.
Swiss federal election 2015 (Council of States, canton Bern)
Member of the Council of States (canton Bern)2015
Not elected
Ran unsuccessfully for the Council of States for the canton of Bern while serving as SVP national campaign manager for the 2015 federal election.
Source :en.wikipedia.orgSwiss federal election 2011 (National Council)
Member of the National Council (canton Bern)2011-10-23
Elected
First elected to the National Council for the SVP in the canton of Bern; took office 5 December 2011.
Bern cantonal government (Regierungsrat) election
Member of the Bern cantonal government2010
Not elected
Ran unsuccessfully for the Bern cantonal government.
Source :en.wikipedia.org
Parcours professionnel
Federal Councillor, Head of DETEC/UVEK
1 janv. 2023Swiss Federal Council
Member of the Federal Council since 1 January 2023, heading the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC/UVEK), succeeding Ueli Maurer (and Simonetta Sommaruga at the head of DETEC).
National President of the SVP
23 avr. 2016 – 22 août 2020Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC)
Elected national president of the SVP on 23 April 2016, succeeding Toni Brunner; stood down in 2020 and was succeeded by Marco Chiesa.
Mayor (Gemeindepräsident) of Uetendorf
2014 – 2022Municipality of Uetendorf, canton Bern
Member of the Uetendorf communal council from 2008 and mayor from 2014.
Owner and Managing Director
2013 – 2022Büro Dr. Rösti GmbH (business and political consultancy)
Founded and ran his own consulting firm in Uetendorf providing services to the private and public sector, through which he managed many of his secondary mandates. The company was put into liquidation after his election to the Federal Council, with the shares transferred to his wife.
Member of the National Council
5 déc. 2011 – 31 déc. 2022Federal Assembly of Switzerland (constituency: Bern)
Sat in the National Council representing the canton of Bern for the SVP from 2011 until his election to the Federal Council.
Director
2006 – 2012Swiss Milk Producers (Swissmilk)
Served as director of the Swiss Milk Producers association (Swissmilk).
Deputy then Secretary General, cantonal Department of Economic Affairs
2001 – 2006Canton of Bern (Volkswirtschaftsdirektion)
Entered the Bern cantonal Department of Economic Affairs in 1998, serving as Deputy Secretary General (2001-2003) and Secretary General (2003-2006).
Teacher of agricultural studies
Bergbauernschule Hondrich (mountain-farming school)
Worked as a teacher of agricultural studies early in his career after completing his agronomy studies at ETH Zurich.
President, SVP of canton Bern
Swiss People's Party (SVP), Bern cantonal section
Served as president of the cantonal Bern section of the SVP before his national party presidency.
Source :admin.ch
Formation
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
to 1992Diploma in Agronomy (Dipl. Ing. Agr. ETH) · Agronomy / Agricultural sciences
Studied agronomy at ETH Zurich.
ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)
to 1997Doctorate (PhD, Dr. sc. techn. ETH) · Agronomy / Agricultural sciences
Completed a doctorate at ETH Zurich, attained in 1997.
Source :admin.chUniversity of Rochester / Rochester-Bern Executive Programs
2001-2002Master of Business Administration (MBA) · Business administration
Completed an MBA via the University of Rochester (USA) / Rochester-Bern programme, graduating in 2002.
Principaux textes législatifs
Revision of the CO2 Act (rejected in referendum)
Climate / energy policy2021
Major revision of the CO2 Act intended to cut greenhouse-gas emissions through measures such as a flight ticket levy and higher fuel charges. It was rejected by 51.6% of voters on 13 June 2021.
Portée : Before joining government, Roesti was a leading opponent of the law; the SVP, of which he was president-era figure, was the only major party to oppose it and was widely credited with its defeat. As Swissoil president he campaigned against it. This stance later contrasted sharply with his role as energy minister.
Federal Act on Climate Protection Targets, Innovation and Energy Security (Climate and Innovation Act)
Climate / energy policy2023
Law setting Switzerland's net-zero-by-2050 target with support measures (counter-proposal to the Glacier Initiative). Approved by about 59% of voters on 18 June 2023, with seven of 26 cantons rejecting it.
Portée : As newly installed DETEC head, Roesti campaigned for the law and defended it in public debate against his own party, which was the only major party to oppose it - including against SVP vice-president Magdalena Martullo-Blocher in the SRF Arena. A notable reversal from his earlier opposition to climate legislation.
Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply from Renewable Energy Sources (Stromgesetz / Energie-Mantelerlass)
Energy policy2024
Framework law to accelerate the expansion of solar, wind and hydroelectric power and strengthen domestic supply security. Approved by 68.7% of voters on 9 June 2024, with all cantons in favour; entered into force from January 2025.
Portée : The flagship law of Roesti's tenure as energy minister, which he steered to a clear popular victory - again campaigning against his own SVP, which together with landscape conservationists opposed it. His second referendum win over his party.
Federal decree on motorway expansion (national roads development step 2023)
Transport / infrastructure2024
Federal decree to fund the expansion of six motorway sections. Rejected by about 53% of voters on 24 November 2024.
Portée : A direct ballot defeat for Roesti as transport minister, who had campaigned strongly for the projects. The outcome was read by the left-green camp as support for a transport transition and climate protection.
Proposal to lift the ban on new nuclear power plants (counter-project to 'Stop Blackout' / 'Jederzeit Strom' initiative)
Energy policy2024-2025
Under Roesti, DETEC moved to reopen the question of new nuclear power, proposing to lift the legal moratorium on building new nuclear plants that had been in place since the 2017 Energy Strategy. The matter was advanced as an indirect counter-proposal to a popular initiative.
Portée : Marks a significant shift in Swiss energy policy debate, reopening the nuclear question; consistent with Roesti's earlier role as president of the pro-nuclear association AVES.
Popular initiative '200 francs are enough!' (SRG halving initiative) and counter-measures
Media policy / broadcasting2026
Popular initiative to cut the radio/TV licence fee to 200 francs, rejected by over 60% of voters and the cantons on 8 March 2026. The Federal Council, with Roesti as media minister, opposed the initiative while implementing a separate phased reduction of the household fee toward 300 francs by 2029.
Portée : Roesti had earlier been a co-initiator of the SRG halving initiative before joining government; as media minister he then campaigned against it, defending a smaller fee reduction - another instance of his position shifting upon entering office.