Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis took the role of President of the Swiss Confederation, media outlets reported on Saturday.
The Swiss president's office term is one year. Unlike other countries, in Switzerland, the head of state is never permanent.
The handover between Cassis and former president, Economy Minister Guy Parmelin, took place on New Year's Eve over the phone.
Both agreed to solve the challenges of the pandemic, a government spokesman wrote on Twitter shortly afterward.
In the same vein, Cassis said the coronavirus pandemic had driven people in Switzerland apart, "but it has not pided us, we will not let ourselves be pided".
Although the masks hid smiles, "we can look each other in the eye and listen to each other," he added.
Moreover, the president affirmed that the government (Federal Council) was “listening to everyone in the country. It understands your concerns and fears. The government always bases its decisions on the overall interests of Switzerland and its population”.
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