Politics · Switzerland · 12 hrs ago
Swiss court nominates Thomas Müller as president for 2027–28
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court has nominated Thomas Müller to be its president for 2027 and 2028.
Current president François Chaix was not nominated again and is expected to leave after one term.
The judges’ assembly made the nomination, but Parliament must formally elect the president during its winter session.
The decision follows criticism of Chaix’s handling of a relationship between judges Yves Donzallaz and Beatrice van de Graaf.
The two judges confirmed they had been in a relationship, but the court said they had never served in the same division or jointly issued a ruling.
The relationship prompted questions about conflicts of interest, while Swiss law restricts relationships between court members.
The court has received 12 requests to reopen completed cases and will decide whether they meet the legal requirements.
The Swiss Federal Supreme Court’s full assembly nominated Thomas Müller as president for the 2027–28 term.
Incumbent president François Chaix was not nominated again and is expected to leave after one term.
The nomination follows controversy over Chaix’s handling of a relationship between two federal judges, but no official link has been confirmed.
The United Federal Assembly is due to elect the president during its winter session.
Twelve requests have been filed to reopen concluded cases connected to the relationship.
- Who
- The Supreme Federal Court nominated Thomas Müller. Incumbent president François Chaix was not nominated again.
- What
- Müller was nominated as president for the 2027–28 term.
- When
- The assembly made the decision on Monday; the articles were published on 13 and 14 October 2026.
- Where
- Switzerland’s Federal Supreme Court.
- Why
- The articles say the nomination may be linked to criticism of Chaix’s handling of a relationship between two judges, but this has not been officially confirmed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Weltwoche reported that federal judges Yves Donzallaz and Beatrice van de Graaf had been in a relationship.
The Federal Supreme Court’s full assembly nominated Thomas Müller for the 2027–28 presidency and did not renominate François Chaix.
Twelve requests were filed seeking reviews of concluded cases connected to the judges’ relationship.
The United Federal Assembly is due to elect the new court president.
- Nominee
- Thomas Müller
- Presidential term
- 2027–28
- Incumbent
- François Chaix
- Judges involved
- Yves Donzallaz and Beatrice van de Graaf
- Requests for review
- 12
2 sources
What people are saying
The Federal Supreme Court has no disciplinary instruments against federal judges, nor does parliament – with the exception of not re-electing them.