The president of the National Council, Dominique de Buman (CVP/FR) will travel to the Vatican and to Rome from 5 to 7 May. On Sunday, 6 May, he will be Switzerland’s most senior representative at the swearing-in ceremony at the Vatican for 33 new Swiss Guard recruits, while on the Monday Mr de Buman, National Council member Marco Chiesa and Council of States member Fabio Abate will meet the president of the Italian Chamber of Deputies, Roberto Fico.

​Italy is an important partner for Switzerland and this visit aims to consolidate the good relations between the two parliaments following the recent Italian elections, based on a common language and culture and shared democratic values. Dominique de Buman, accompanied by the president and the vice president of the Delegation for relations with the Italian Parliament (Del-I), National Council member Marco Chiesa and Council of States member Fabio Abate, will raise the current issues that closely affect cooperation between the two countries with the newly elected president of the Chamber of Deputies.

During his official visit to the Vatican and to Rome, Mr de Buman will also visit a number of international organisations. He will hold talks with the president of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Gilbert F. Houngbo, the director general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation, José Graziano da Silva. Mr de Buman will also meet the director of the Istituto svizzero di Roma (ISR), Joëlle Comé.

The president of the National Council will also be accompanied by Ambassador Claudio Fischer, head of International Relations and Multilingualism at the Parliamentary Services.