Switzerland’s presidency rotates every year among the seven members of the executive Federal Council.
ADVERTISEMENTSwitzerland's foreign affairs minister Ignazio Cassis has been selected to become the country's next president in January.
The vote in parliament was largely a formality after Cassis had been chosen as Switzerland's vice-president last year.
A total of 156 members out of 200 in the Swiss Federal Assembly chose Cassis to take over as President in 2022.
The role of the Swiss president -- to hold representative duties and chair cabinet meetings -- rotates every year among the seven members of the executive Federal Council.
Cassis will become the first president from Switzerland’s Italian-speaking Ticino region this century. He will take over from incumbent Guy Parmelin on January 1.
The 60-year-old -- who has a medical degree and practised as a doctor in internal medicine -- is fluent in Switzerland's three main languages; French, German, and Italian.
His main tasks will include fighting the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and restoring soured relations with the neighbouring European Union.
In May, the Swiss government had pulled out of years-long negotiations on a comprehensive package of bilateral accords with the EU. The two sides had failed to reach an agreement on the cross-border movement of jobseekers and other key issues.
Meanwhile, Swiss Health Minister Alain Berset will take on the role of vice-president as is expected to be chosen as president in 2023.