Stephan Schleiss to be head of cantonal government

It has been announced that Stephan Schleiss of the SVP party is to take on the role of head of the cantonal government on the first day of the new period of legislature on Tuesday 1 January 2019, assuming the title of Landammann. In so doing he will be taking over from the current Frau Landammann, Manuela Weichelt-Picard, who did not stand for re-election. Schleiss (photograph) will also remain director of education.

His party colleague, Heinz Tännler, will remain director of finance, as Martin Pfister of the CVP party remains director of health. As previously reported, Beat Villiger, also of the CVP party, is to remain director of public safety and justice.

As to the three new members of the cantonal government, Andreas Hostettler of the FDP party will be taking over the Department of Inner-Cantonal Affairs, previously held by Weichelt-Picard. Among other areas, he will therefore be responsible for immigration matters. His party colleague, Urs Hürlimann, is to take over responsibility for the Department of Planning, while Silvia Thalmann-Gut of the CVP party takes over the Department of Economic Development from Matthias Michel, who did not seek re-election.

It is not yet known who will take on the role of deputy head of the cantonal government, the position of Statthalter.