Thomas Helbling

Thomas Helbling (* 1961 in Bern ) is a Swiss lawyer and senior federal employee. He's since June 1, 2008 Vice- Chancellor of the Swiss Confederation, responsible for the Bundesrat.

Life and career

After a successful study of law at the Universities of Bern and London Helbling first worked as a lawyer, then went from 1998 in the service of Federal Councillor Adolf Ogi and his successor Samuel Schmid personal assistant. In 2001, Helbling took over the role of the project manager for the joint application by Switzerland and Austria as the organizer of the European Football Championship 2008.

End of 2002, Helbling stepped back from the organizing committee and was the private insurance company Swiss Life Head of Public Affairs. At the same time he became a member of the Executive Council of the Swiss Football Association, in charge of security. In this role, Helbling campaigned for a tightening of the legal anti - hooligan measures.

After the election of Vice- Chancellor Corina Casanova to the new Chancellor Initially Helbling was appointed in February 2008 as the new Vice -Chancellor, and took office on June 1. As head of the Federal Council, he is with its 115 employees responsible for the preparation and revision of the official meetings of the Federal continue to report to him: the Legal Section, the competence Official Publications Centre and the Central Language Services of the Federal Chancellery.

Helbling is a member of the FDP since 1990.