13 Facts About Martin Pfister

Martin Pfister was born on 31 July 1963 and is a Swiss historian and politician of the Centre.

Martin Pfister has served as a of Zug since 2016, responsible for the health department.

Martin Pfister is a trained teacher and an in the Swiss Army, having served for eight years in disaster response.

Martin Pfister led the health department of Zug from 2016 to 2025.

Martin Pfister won the most votes of any candidate in the 2022 Executive Council elections.

In 2025, Martin Pfister was elected into the Federal Council to replace Viola Amherd.

Martin Pfister's taking over the leadership of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport was expected and officially confirmed in the redistribution of departments amongst Federal Councillors two days after the election.

Martin Pfister announced his candidacy at the last moment and spent several days in private afterwards, leading to him being described as an "alibi candidate".

In contrast to Ritter, who aggressively presented himself as a problem-solver, Martin Pfister spoke slowly and calmly.

Martin Pfister was born 31 July 1963 in Zug and grew up there and in Allenwinden, where he currently resides with his family.

Martin Pfister studied history and German studies, in particular the history of Swiss Federal Councillors and wrote his thesis about Philipp Etter, an early Federal Councillor from Zug.

Martin Pfister is against loosening the debt brake, instead preferring to increase revenue by raising the value added tax.

Martin Pfister's positions were described in the Neue Zurcher Zeitung as "liberal in social and economic questions".