Karin Keller-Sutter
MinisterFederal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF)
FDP.The Liberals (FDP/PLR) · Zwitserland
Profiel opgesteld in het Engels
Karin Keller-Sutter (born Karin Maria Sutter on 22 December 1963 in Niederuzwil, canton of St. Gallen) is a Swiss politician of FDP.The Liberals and a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 1 January 2019. A trained conference interpreter and translator who also taught at commercial vocational schools, she entered politics in Wil (SG), served in the St. Gallen cantonal parliament and from 2000 to 2012 in the cantonal government, where she headed the Security and Justice Department and earned a reputation as a hardliner on asylum and security matters. She represented St. Gallen in the Council of States from 2011 to 2019 and was its president in 2017-2018. After an unsuccessful Federal Council bid in 2010, she was elected to the Federal Council on 5 December 2018. She led the Federal Department of Justice and Police (2019-2022) and has headed the Federal Department of Finance (FDF/DFF) since 1 January 2023. She was Vice President of Switzerland in 2024 and President of the Confederation in 2025. She is internationally known for her role in the March 2023 emergency takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS.
Verkiezingsgeschiedenis
Election of the President of the Confederation for 2025
President of the Swiss Confederation (2025)2024-12-11
Elected
168 votes
Elected by the United Federal Assembly as President of the Confederation for 2025 with 168 votes; had served as Vice President in 2024.
Swiss Federal Council election (succession of Johann Schneider-Ammann)
Member of the Federal Council2018-12-05
Elected (first ballot)
154 of 237 votes
tegen Hans Wicki (FDP, 56 votes)
Elected by the United Federal Assembly on the first ballot with 154 votes; fellow FDP candidate Hans Wicki received 56 votes. Elected alongside Viola Amherd (CVP).
Swiss federal election (Council of States, St. Gallen)
Re-election to the Council of States2015-10
Re-elected
Re-elected to the Council of States with a strong result.
Bron:hls-dhs-dss.chSwiss federal election (Council of States, St. Gallen)
Member of the Council of States2011-10-23
Elected (first ballot)
approx. 65%
Elected to the Council of States in the first round with about 65% of the vote; left the cantonal government in May 2012.
Swiss Federal Council by-election (succession of Hans-Rudolf Merz)
Member of the Federal Council2010-09-22
Defeated
tegen Johann Schneider-Ammann (FDP), Jean-François Rime (SVP)
Narrowly failed in the fourth ballot; her FDP party colleague Johann Schneider-Ammann was elected to the seat.
St. Gallen cantonal government election
Member of the Government Council (Regierungsrat) of St. Gallen2000-03-12
Elected
Elected to the St. Gallen cantonal government, taking over the Security and Justice Department. Repeatedly re-elected with top results through 2012.
Loopbaan
Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF/DFF)
1 jan 2023Swiss Federal Council
Heads the Federal Department of Finance, succeeding Ueli Maurer. Led the federal response to the March 2023 Credit Suisse crisis and the UBS takeover, the implementation of the OECD/G20 minimum tax, and federal budget policy under the debt brake. Vice President of Switzerland 2024; President of the Confederation 2025.
Federal Councillor, Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP)
1 jan 2019 – 31 dec 2022Swiss Federal Council
Headed the Federal Department of Justice and Police, succeeding Simonetta Sommaruga. Focused on rigorous implementation of the Dublin asylum framework, security legislation and corporate/civil law reform.
Member of the Council of States (Ständerat), President 2017-2018
2011 – 2019Federal Assembly of Switzerland (Council of States), canton St. Gallen
Represented St. Gallen in the Council of States from late 2011/2012 until her move to the Federal Council. Member of committees on economic affairs and taxation, social security and health, and foreign affairs, and president of the EFTA/EU delegation (2018). President of the Council of States in 2017-2018.
Cantonal Councillor, Head of Security and Justice Department
2000 – 2012Government Council (Regierungsrat) of the Canton of St. Gallen
Member of the St. Gallen cantonal government for twelve years, heading the Security and Justice Department. Government president in 2006-2007 and 2011-2012. Chaired the Conference of Cantonal Justice and Police Directors (KKJPD) 2010-2012. Built a reputation as a hardliner on asylum, immigration and security.
Member of the Cantonal Parliament (Kantonsrat)
1996 – 2000Canton of St. Gallen
Deputy in the cantonal parliament (Kantonsrat) of St. Gallen.
Member of the municipal parliament of Wil (and president 1997)
1992 – 2000City of Wil (canton St. Gallen)
Member of the Wil municipal parliament; served as its president in 1997. From 1997 also president of the cantonal FDP party.
Conference interpreter and translator (self-employed)
1989 – 2000Self-employed
Worked as a qualified conference interpreter and translator after completing her studies at the Zurich interpreters' school (DOZ).
Teacher at commercial vocational schools
1989 – 2000Kaufmännische Berufsschulen St. Gallen and Wil
Taught at the commercial vocational schools in St. Gallen and Wil; completed a part-time teaching qualification (Berufsmittelschullehrerin) at the University of Fribourg from 1994 to 1996.
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Opleiding
Commercial school, Neuchâtel
1982Commercial diploma (Handelsdiplom) · Commerce / French language
Obtained her commercial diploma in Neuchâtel after schooling in Wil, gaining French-language proficiency.
Bron:hls-dhs-dss.chDolmetscherschule Zurich (DOZ), now part of the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW)
1984-1989Diploma in conference interpreting and translation · Interpreting and translation
Trained as a qualified conference interpreter and translator; also spent a semester at the University of Montreal.
University of Fribourg
1994-1996Postgraduate teaching diploma (Berufsmittelschullehrerin / pedagogy) · Pedagogy / teaching for vocational schools
Completed a part-time teacher-training qualification for vocational (Berufsmittel-) schools while working as an interpreter and teacher.
Belangrijke wetgeving
Revision of the Weapons Act (implementation of the EU firearms directive / Schengen)
Security / Schengen2019
Tightening of Swiss weapons law to align with the revised EU firearms directive, defended by her department and approved in a popular vote in May 2019.
Betekenis: Secured Switzerland's continued participation in Schengen/Dublin by adopting the EU firearms rules despite a referendum challenge.
Bron:hls-dhs-dss.chRigorous implementation of the Dublin asylum framework and asylum/foreign nationals policy
Asylum and migration2019-2022
As Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, pursued strict implementation of the Dublin Agreement and intensified negotiations with third states on the readmission of asylum seekers.
Betekenis: Continued Switzerland's restrictive asylum-enforcement line; a defining theme of her tenure as Justice Minister.
Bron:hls-dhs-dss.chExtension of the anti-racism criminal norm to sexual orientation
Criminal law / anti-discrimination2020
Extension of the criminal provision against discrimination to cover discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, approved in a popular vote in February 2020.
Betekenis: Extended legal protection against discrimination to LGBT people.
Bron:hls-dhs-dss.chFederal Act on Police Measures to Combat Terrorism (PMT)
Security / police law2021
Law expanding preventive police measures against terrorism, defended by her department and approved in a popular vote in June 2021. Its broad definition of terrorism drew criticism, including from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Betekenis: Significantly expanded preventive police powers; controversial on human-rights grounds.
Bron:hls-dhs-dss.chMarriage for All (Ehe für alle) - Civil Code amendment
Civil law / equality2021
Amendment to the Civil Code opening civil marriage to same-sex couples, with adoption rights and access to sperm donation for female couples. Approved by 64.1% of voters on 26 September 2021 and in force from 1 July 2022. As Justice Minister, Keller-Sutter represented the government position in favour.
Betekenis: Landmark equality reform; Keller-Sutter said it ended existing inequalities of treatment.
Emergency measures for the takeover of Credit Suisse by UBS (March 2023)
Financial stability / banking2023
As Finance Minister, led the federal response to the collapse of Credit Suisse. On 19 March 2023 the Federal Council adopted, partly under emergency law (Notrecht), a package including federal guarantees and liquidity assistance enabling UBS to take over Credit Suisse. The government later committed to converting the emergency measures into ordinary law and reviewing too-big-to-fail rules.
Betekenis: One of the largest banking rescues in Swiss history; reshaped the Swiss banking landscape and the too-big-to-fail debate.
Implementation of the OECD/G20 minimum tax (15%) - constitutional amendment
Taxation2023
Constitutional amendment to implement the OECD/G20 minimum taxation of 15% for large internationally active corporate groups (annual revenue above EUR 750 million). Championed by Keller-Sutter as Finance Minister and approved by voters and the cantons on 18 June 2023.
Betekenis: Aligned Switzerland with the international minimum-tax regime while seeking to retain tax revenue domestically.
Onderscheidingen en eerbewijzen
One of the 25 most influential women of 2023
2023Financial Times
Listed by the Financial Times among the most influential women worldwide, primarily credited for her engagement with the acquisition of Credit Suisse by UBS.
Honorary Citizen of Wil (Ehrenbürgerin)
2018City of Wil (canton St. Gallen)
Made an honorary citizen of the city of Wil, where she grew up, following her election to the Federal Council.
Bron:hls-dhs-dss.chPolitician of the Year (Swiss Award)
2011Swiss Award (Swiss television entertainment programme)
Named Politician of the Year in the context of the Swiss Award show, recognising her public profile as a St. Gallen cantonal councillor.
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