Former Swiss president Alain Berset is to become the new secretary general of the Council of Europe after the 52-year-old prevailed in two rounds of voting against Estonian Indrek Saar and Belgian Didier Reynders on Tuesday evening.
He is due to take office on September 18 following the vote at the council's Parliamentary Assembly in the French city of Strasbourg.
Founded in 1949, the Council of Europe is an international organization based in the French city of Strasbourg. It is made up of 46 European states.
Its aim is to promote democracy and protect human rights and the rule of law in Europe. One of its key achievements is the European Convention on Human Rights.
Until the end of 2023, Berset was a member of the seven-member Swiss government for 12 years as minister of the interior and minister of health.
The members of the government alternate in the office of president of the Swiss Confederation in addition to their ministry for one year at a time.
Berset is a political scientist and economist.