The difference between ‘state’ and ‘presidential’ visits

A Swiss president never pays a state visit, but can still be received for a state visit by a host country. How is that possible?

The question of state visits abroad frequently causes a certain amount of confusion. First of all it is worth pointing out that in Switzerland the president is not the head of state, as is the case in other countries. That role is held by the full Federal Council, but it is extremely rare for all seven members to travel abroad together (the few exceptions being the opening of the Simplon tunnel in Domodossola in 1906 and occasional stopovers during Federal Council outings – none of which were considered state visits).

Given that the Swiss president is not the head of state, formulations such as ‘the president is paying a state visit to’ or ‘is currently on a state visit abroad’ are incorrect from a Swiss perspective; instead it is more accurate to speak of a ‘presidential visit’.

Question of perspective

For the host country, however, the situation is somewhat different. For although no one individual is considered to be head of state in Switzerland, the President of the Swiss Confederation should be accorded the same standing as his or her foreign counterparts when they meet.

Quite reasonably, other countries regard these occasions when they invite or receive the Swiss president as a ‘state visit’; the term is therefore perfectly appropriate. It is up to the country issuing the invitation to decide whether it is for a working visit, an official visit or a state visit, with the full honours dictated by protocol.

It is all a question of perspective. Swiss presidents only pay presidential visits, but on occasion are received on state visits by their foreign hosts. The concept of the state visit presents no problems when foreign heads of state come to Switzerland, because they are received by all seven members of the Federal Council.