Sri Lanka (Commonwealth Union)_ A new chapter in Swiss political history was written this week as Farah Rumy, a Swiss parliamentarian of Sri Lankan origin, was elected Second Vice President of the National Council. The decision was made at the opening of the Federal Assembly’s winter session for 2025, marking the first time a person of Sri Lankan heritage has taken on a leadership role at the federal parliamentary level in Switzerland. The election took place as members of the National Council selected their leadership team, known as the presidium, for the 2025–2026 parliamentary year.
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Pierre-André Page of the Swiss People’s Party was elected President of the National Council, while Katja Christ of the Green Liberal Party was chosen as First Vice President. Rumy, who represents the Social Democratic Party, completed the trio as Second Vice President. These roles carry significant responsibility within Switzerland’s political system. The presidium oversees parliamentary debates, helps guide legislative priorities, and represents the country in official parliamentary relations abroad. The positions rotate annually and are regarded as some of the most prestigious in Swiss politics.
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Farah Rumy, 34, was born in Sri Lanka and moved to Switzerland with her family in 1998 at the age of six. She attended Bishop’s College in Colombo before relocating to Switzerland, where she later trained as a nurse and medical expert. Her professional experience in healthcare has had a significant impact on her political career. Rumy entered politics during the COVID-19 pandemic, which exposed weaknesses in public health policy and social protection. Motivated by her front-line experience, she joined the Social Democratic Party in 2020. In 2021, she was elected to the Solothurn Cantonal Council, where she worked on health and social issues. That same year, she also became a municipal councillor in the city of Grenchen, where she continues to serve.
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Rumy’s political work extends beyond elected office. Rumy sits on Grenchen’s Naturalisation Commission, serves on the board of Spitex Grenchen, and is a foundation board member of the Rodania Foundation, which supports people with disabilities. She previously co-led the Social Democratic Party’s migrant wing in the canton of Solothurn and remains active in community and advocacy work. Following the 2023 federal elections, Rumy joined the National Council as a replacement member after MP Franziska Roth stepped down. She now serves on the Foreign Affairs Committee and is an alternate member of the Immunity Committee. In parliament, she has been a strong voice on healthcare reform, social equality, foreign policy, peacebuilding, and human rights. She is also co-president of her regional nursing union.
Rumy’s election as Second Vice President positions her on a traditional leadership path that could see her become President of the National Council in 2028, provided she is re-elected in 2027. Additionally, on the same day, the Council of States, Switzerland’s upper chamber, elected Stefan Engler as its President for the 2025–2026 term. For Farah Rumy, this week’s vote represents more than a personal achievement. It reflects Switzerland’s changing political landscape, the growing presence of leaders from diverse backgrounds, and the increasing influence of a younger generation shaping the country’s future.
