Berset, who also holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, made his announcement on Wednesday, saying it was the right moment to move on after serving as a government minister since 2012.
As health minister during the Covid-19 pandemic, Berset faced fierce criticism from some quarters for his role in enforcing lockdowns in the country.
The Social Democrat has since come under closer scrutiny following allegations that his department leaked information to the media about buying vaccines before official announcements.
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Switzerland’s Alain Berset is no Teflon man
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Switzerland loves a good summer scandal. And once again, it involves cabinet minister Alain Berset.
Only recently, he was standing defiant in the face of criticism, suggesting he would like to carry on at his post after this autumn’s general election.
“There is still so much to do. I have very large dossiers on the table that I want to finish,” Berset told Swiss public broadcaster SRF earlier this month when asked if he would stand for another term.
But in an apparent u-turn, Berset now says he feels he has served as government minister for long enough.
When asked about his future plans, he joked: “Maybe I’ll take up yoga. Do you know yoga?”
Social Democratic Party co-president Mattea Meyer called Berset an “approachable politician, uncomplicated person and independent statesman”.
“Covid challenged him and us as a society. We can only begin to imagine the hatred and anger he faced.”
Alain Berset
Alain Berset was elected to the government in 2011. Then 39, he became one of the youngest government members in history. Since then, he has headed the interior ministry, where his responsibilities include health, social insurance and culture.
Born in Fribourg in 1972, he is married with three children. He studied politics and economics at the University of Neuchâtel. After working as a scientific researcher and political advisor, he joined the Senate, the upper chamber of the Swiss parliament, in 2003 and was its president in 2009.
Berset held the rotating Swiss presidency for the first time in 2018. On December 7, 2022, he was elected for a second time by the Federal Assembly (the two chambers of parliament combined) for the year 2023. He received 140 votes out of 181 valid ballots. He had obtained a much better score (190 votes out of 210 valid ballots) during his first election to the presidency in 2018.
Alain Berset (centre, wearing a hat) makes his way to the media conference in Bern at which he will announce his resignation on Wednesday, June 21, 2023. For the past 12 years he has headed the interior ministry, where his responsibilities include health, social insurance and culture; he also currently holds the rotating Swiss presidency.
Marcel Bieri/Keystone
A passer-by takes a selfie with Alain Berset as he makes his way to a media conference in Bern where the Swiss interior minister will announce his resignation from the Federal Council on Wednesday, June 21, 2023.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
A portrait of Alain Berset taken in December 2022, ahead of him taking on the rotating role of Swiss president in 2023.
Thomas Kern/swissinfo.ch
Alain Berset, in his role as Swiss president (centre right), and US President Donald J. Trump (centre left) discuss during a bilateral meeting, next to Swiss Federal Councillor Johann Schneider-Ammann (right) and US Ambassador Edward Thomas McMullen (left) during the World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland, on Friday, January 26, 2018.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
Alain Berset signs an autograph on a Swiss flag on a child’s back while visiting a sports centre in the municipality of Le Chenit in canton Vaud during the Federal Council excursion on July 1, 2021.
Laurent Gillieron/Keystone
Alain Berset, in his role as the Swiss president, visits a carbon capture pilot project in Iceland lead by ETH Zurich known as DemoUpCARMA (Demonstration and Upscaling of CARbon dioxide MAnagement solutions for a net-zero Switzerland). Carbon dioxide from a Swiss wastewater treatment plant (ARA Bern) is transported to Iceland and permanently stored in a geological reservoir near Reykjavik, Iceland, May 16, 2023.
Anthony Anex/Keystone
Alain Berset, in his role as Swiss president, is surrounded by children during a visit to the Kutupalong Rohingya refugee camp in Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh, as part of Berset’s four-day official visit to Bangladesh on February 6, 2018.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
Alain Berset, in his role as Swiss president, visits the “Svizzera 240: House Tour” exhibition at the Swiss Pavilion during the 16th International Architecture Exhibition “La Biennale di Venezia”, held in Venice, Italy, on May 25, 2018.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
Portraits of Swiss President Alain Berset (left) and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the city of Dhaka during Berset’s four-day state visit to Bangladesh, February 4, 2018.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
Alain Berset visits Mendrisio, canton Ticino, on the second day of the Federal Council tour through Switzerland, July 1, 2022.
Keystone
Swiss President Alain Berset takes notes during a short break between bilateral meetings at the 73rd session of the United Nations General Assembly at UN Headquarters in New York on September 26, 2018.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
Alain Berset puts on a protective face mask at the end of a media conference on the latest Swiss government Covid-19 pandemic measures, August 25, 2021.
Anthony Anex/Keystone
Alain Berset takes a selfie with a music band during the Swiss National Day celebrations in Lucerne on August 1, 2018.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
Alain Berset makes his way to a government press conference in Bern concerning the nationwide votes held in Switzerland on May 15, 2022.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
Alain Berset gives an interview during the Federal Council tour at the Abegg Foundation in Riggisberg, canton Bern, on July 3, 2020.
Peter Klaunzer/Keystone
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Down-to-earth Swiss president raises eyebrows
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More than 250 Swiss companies sign CO2 reduction initiative
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A total of 257 companies from Switzerland have signed up to the Science Based Targets Initiative (SBTi). In doing so, they are committing to CO2 reduction targets that are compatible with the Paris Climate Agreement.
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If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
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Switzerland’s 20 living ex-presidents: a world record
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Twenty former Swiss presidents are still alive. What does this record say about the country’s political stability and leadership?
Federal prosecutor opens probe into potential breaches by IT office
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Swiss president decries ‘illegal leaks’ implicating his office
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Health minister Alain Berset, who holds the rotating Swiss presidency this year, refused to comment on information from an “illegal leak”.
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