Swiss Defence Minister Viola Amherd will step down at the end of March, according to an announcement by the Swiss Parliament on Wednesday via X. A new member of Switzerland’s seven-member federal cabinet will be elected during the spring session to succeed her.
“After more than 30 years in politics, including over 25 years in an executive role, it is time to hand over the reins to fresh leadership,” Amherd stated in her resignation letter, which was shared in the Parliament’s post.
Amherd, who has been a cabinet member since 2019 and held the rotating presidency last year, reflected on her tenure, saying, “These were challenging times marked by overlapping crises.”
Her resignation follows criticism from the Swiss People’s Party, which accused her of mismanaging priorities within the Swiss army and called for her departure. The liberal FDP party also weighed in, expressing gratitude for her contributions but emphasizing the need for her successor to focus on strengthening the country’s military capabilities.
Amherd, 62, is a member of the centrist Die Mitte party and last year led an international summit on Ukraine hosted in Switzerland. Her departure comes shortly after Die Mitte president Gerhard Pfister stepped down, fueling speculation in Swiss media that he could potentially replace her.
