Federal Council Photo 2026: Federal President Parmelin Trusts Young Photographers

Summary

Federal President Guy Parmelin has commissioned four students from the Vevey vocational school to take the official Federal Council photo 2026. The entire project was realized by young people in training and presents the Federal Council as an authentic collegium. The photo was taken in the Salon de la Présidence and printed in an edition of 35,000 copies.

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Detailed Summary

Guy Parmelin, head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research (EAER), deliberately chose an unconventional approach. Instead of hiring established photographers, he commissioned the Vevey vocational school to realize the Federal Council photo 2026. This decision underscores confidence in the younger generation and the promotion of emerging talent.

The project team consisted of four aspiring photographers: Nathan Bugniet, Eileen Fraefel, Samantha Keller, and Léo Margueron. Each member brought specific skills that contributed to the project's success. Teachers from the vocational school supported the students in concept development and practical implementation.

The shoot took place in the Salon de la Présidence, directly adjacent to the Federal Council meeting room. A central feature of the photo is the portrayal of the seven Federal Council members and the Federal Chancellor as a collegium – they were photographed together rather than individually. This conveys an image of cohesion and trust. Particularly innovative is the decision to also make the four students visible in a separately taken photo. This creates transparency in the production process and honors the creative achievement of the young photographers.

The project extended beyond photographic work alone. Apprentices from the Federal Chancellery and the EAER participated as extras during the test shoot. A media technology apprentice from the Federal Chancellery also created a behind-the-scenes video that provides insights into the production process. This demonstrates a holistic understanding of talent promotion and practical vocational training.

The official Federal Council photo was printed in an edition of 35,000 copies and can be downloaded and ordered at www.admin.ch. The accompanying video documents the entire production process.

Key Points

• Federal President Parmelin deliberately relies on emerging talent and trusts the younger generation
• The project was realized entirely by students from the Vevey vocational school
• The Federal Council photo presents the collegium as a unit, not as a collection of individual portraits
• Transparency in image production: the photographers are themselves visible in the photo
• Broad participation of apprentices from various sectors of the federal administration
• The photo was printed in large print run (35,000 copies) and is publicly available

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