Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, (German: Bundesanwaltschaft, French: Ministère public de la Confédération, Italian: Ministero pubblico della Confederazione, Romansh: Procura publica federale) is the Swiss federal investigative and public prosecuting body, in a country where the Swiss Federal Constitution otherwise devolves responsibilities to the cantons of Switzerland.[1] The Office is responsible for prosecuting certain types of offenses directed against the federal state, as well as complex proceedings concerning international or economic crime.[2][3] The department is under the responsibility of the federal Attorney General, who is elected by the Federal Assembly, along with two deputies.[4]
Types of offenses prosecuted
The Swiss Criminal Procedure Code lists the offenses prosecuted by the Office of the Attorney General. These include offenses against federal magistrates and officials, prohibited intelligence service activities, counterfeiting, offenses involving explosives, and violations of the federal law on war material.[3]
Additionally, certain federal laws grant jurisdiction to the Federal Criminal Court.[5]
Attorneys General
Since the establishment of the Swiss Confederation in 1848, the Confederation has had an Attorney General. Originally appointed by the Federal Council, this magistrate has been elected by the Federal Assembly since 2011.[6][7] The following individuals have held this position:[8]
- 1851-1852: Paul Migy
- 1852-1856: Jakob Amiet
- 1889-1899: Jakob Albert Scherb
- 1899-1916: Otto Kronauer
- 1916-1948: Franz Stämpfli
- 1949-1955: Werner Lüthi
- 1955-1957: René Dubois (jurist)
- 1958-1967: Hans Fürst
- 1968-1974: Hans Walder
- 1974-1989: Rudolf Gerber (Jurist)
- 1990-1993: Willy Padrutt
- 1994-1998: Carla Del Ponte
- 2000-2006: Valentin Roschacher
- 2006-2007: Michel-André Fels (interim postholder)
- 2007-2011: Erwin Beyeler
- 2012-2020: Michael Lauber[7]
- Since 2021: Stefan Blättler[9]
See also
Notes and references
- ^ "Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation (article 3)". Swiss federal authorities. 18 April 1999. Archived from the original on 13 May 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Welcome to the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland (OAG)". Swiss federal authorities. 2018. Archived from the original on 6 August 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Swiss Criminal Procedure Code". Swiss federal authorities. 1 April 2025. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "The Attorney General of the Swiss Confederation". Swiss federal authorities. 2018. Archived from the original on 6 October 2025. Retrieved 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Loi fédérale sur l'organisation des autorités pénales de la Confédération, article 35" [Federal Act on the Organization of Federal Criminal Authorities, art. 35]. Loi fédérale sur l'organisation des autorités pénales de la Confédération (in French). 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025.
- ^ "Loi fédérale sur l'organisation des autorités pénales de la Confédération, art. 20" [Federal Act on the Organization of Federal Criminal Authorities, article 20]. Loi fédérale sur l'organisation des autorités pénales de la Confédération (in French). 19 March 2010. Archived from the original on 13 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Michael Lauber sera le nouveau procureur général" [Michael Lauber will be the new Attorney General]. rts.ch (in French). 28 September 2011. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
- ^ Therese Steffen Gerber and Martin Keller. "Ministère public de la Confédération" [Office of the Attorney General of the Swiss Confederation]. Historical Dictionary of Switzerland (in French).
- ^ "Stefan Blättler est le nouveau procureur général de la Confédération" [Stefan Blättler is the new Attorney General of the Confederation]. Radio Télévision Suisse (in French). 29 September 2021. Archived from the original on 7 February 2023.
Bibliography
- "Code de procédure pénale suisse" [Swiss Criminal Procedure Code]. Code de procédure pénale suisse (in French). 5 October 2007.
- "Loi fédérale sur l'organisation des autorités pénales de la Confédération" [Federal Act on the Organization of Federal Criminal Authorities]. Loi fédérale sur l'organisation des autorités pénales de la Confédération (in French). 19 March 2010.