22 Facts About Ueli Maurer

Ulrich "Ueli" Maurer is a Swiss politician who served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2009 to 2022.

Formerly head of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sports, Maurer has headed the Federal Department of Finance from 2016 to 2022.

An accountant by occupation, Ueli Maurer chaired the Swiss People's Party from 1996 to 2008.

Ueli Maurer served as Vice President of Switzerland for 2012 and 2018 and President of Switzerland for 2013 and 2019.

Ueli Maurer was reelected to the Federal Council in 2011,2015 and 2019.

Ueli Maurer grew up as the son of a poor farmer in the Zurcher Oberland.

Ueli Maurer was director of the Zurich Farmers' Association from 1994 to 2008 and president of the Swiss Vegetable Farmers' Association and the Farmers' Machinery Association until his election to the Federal Council.

Ueli Maurer is married and has six children and currently resides in Hinwil in the canton of Zurich.

Ueli Maurer served in the Swiss Army with the rank of major, commanding a bicycle infantry battalion.

From 1978 to 1986, Ueli Maurer was a member of the municipal government of Hinwil.

Ueli Maurer was elected to the cantonal parliament of Zurich in 1983, which he presided over in 1991.

In 1996, at Blocher's behest, Ueli Maurer was elected to the presidency of the Swiss People's Party.

Nonetheless, Ueli Maurer was able to keep his public persona separate from the way his colleagues in Parliament perceived him.

Blocher, used to exercising authoritarian leadership as the party's undisputed leading figure, did not approve of Ueli Maurer questioning some of his strategic approaches, and increasingly exercised power through a close-knit circle of followers instead of through Ueli Maurer and the party secretariat.

In October 2007, after the People's Party won its greatest electoral victory to date, Ueli Maurer resigned as party president and was succeeded against his wishes by Toni Brunner, one of Blocher's close confidants, on 1 March 2008.

On 10 December 2008 Ueli Maurer was elected to the Federal Council in the third round of voting with 122 votes, a margin of a single vote.

Ueli Maurer was elected Vice President of Switzerland for 2012, alongside President Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf.

Ueli Maurer became President of the Swiss Confederation for a second time for 2019 after serving as vice president under Alain Berset in 2018.

On 29 April 2019, during his visit in China, Ueli Maurer signed a Memorandum of Understanding under the Belt and Road Initiative.

On 16 May 2019, Ueli Maurer met President Donald Trump in the White House, becoming the first Swiss President to meet a United States President in that location.

On 20 September 2022 Ueli Maurer announced his resignation, effective 31 December.

On 1 January 2023, Ueli Maurer joined the ethics committee of the International Olympic Committee.