GENEVA, Jan. 1 (Xinhua) -- Simonetta Sommaruga of the Swiss Social Democratic Party took office on Wednesday as President of the Swiss Confederation.
Sommaruga, who is also Minister of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications of Switzerland, was elected president of the country for 2020 at a joint meeting of the two chambers of the Swiss parliament in December.
Born on May 14, 1960, Sommaruga used to be a concert pianist and president of the Swiss Foundation for Consumer Protection.
She has been a member of the Swiss Federal Council since 2010 and was elected as President of the Swiss Confederation for 2015.
Switzerland's Federal Council is elected by the two parliamentary chambers jointly. The election takes place every four years in December, following the election of the entire parliament.
Each year in December, the Swiss parliament elects the President of the Swiss Confederation from among the seven federal councillors for a 12-month term of office.
