![When it comes to election to the Federal Council, some cantonal coats of arms shine brighter than others...](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/bundeskuppel-300x225.jpg)
The first federal councillor from Basel in over 50 years
The canton of Basel-Stadt had to wait a long time to be represented on the Federal Council. After the election of Hans-Peter Tschudi in 1959, it was 64 years before the next candidate from the city won a seat on the national executive body. Both events were cause for widespread celebration.
![Basel and the Rhine. Aerial photograph by Eduard Spelterini, c. 1900.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/basel-spleterini-um-1900-300x219.jpg)
![Portrait of Federal Councillor Emil Frey.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/bundesrat-emil-frey-246x300.jpg)
![Federal Councillor Ernst Brenner in a photograph from 1907.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/ernst-brenner-205x300.jpg)
![Hans-Peter Tschudi in an interview after his election to the Federal Council in 1959.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/tschudi-interview-300x234.jpg)
![Federal Councillor Hans-Peter Tschudi (in front) is greeted by a parade of elephants after his election.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/elefanten-300x202.jpg)
![Federal Councillor Beat Jans (far right) with his fellow federal councillors in the official 2024 Federal Council photo.](https://blog.nationalmuseum.ch/app/uploads/bundesrat-2024-beat-jans-300x215.jpg)
The Swiss parliament celebrates newly elected Federal Councillor Beat Jans from Basel, 50 years after the departure of Hans-Peter Tschudi. SRF