1963, diploma, Commercial School of St Maurice; 1964, Commercial Baccalaureate, Sion; 1968, Licence in Political Science, Institute of International Studies, Geneva. 1981-97, Member, Geneva Cantonal Parliament and Chair, Finance Commission, and Speaker of the Parliament; 1986-90, Chair, Social Democratic Party (SP), Canton of Geneva;; 1986-93, Member of the Board, Caisse d'Epargne de Genève; 1991-97, Member of the Board of Governors, Argos; 1993-97, Chair, SP, Canton of Geneva; 1994-97, Member of the Board, Geneva International Airport; 1997-2002, with Geneva Cantonal Government and Head, Finance Department; 1998-2002, Member of the Board of Governors, Lady Michelham of Hellingly Foundation; 1998-2002, Vice-President then President, Canton of Geneva Employees' Pension Fund; 1998-2002, Member of the Board, Fonds d'Equipement Communal, Canton of Geneva; 2001-02, President, Geneva Cantonal Government; 2002, Member of the Board, Swiss National Bank; 2002, elected Federal Councillor. Since 2003, Federal Councillor and Head, Federal Department of Foreign Affairs; 2007 and 2011, President of the Swiss Confederation.