The usual changeover of the Presidency of the State Council of the Canton of Ticino will take place on Wednesday, April 15, 2026. During the official session, the State Councilor Claudius Zali will take over the leadership of the Cantonal Executive, taking over from Norman Gobbi.
The change of Presidency is a consolidated practice in the Ticino political system, which provides for an annual rotation among government members. The changeover takes place in the fourth and final year of the 2023–2027 legislature, marking a transitional moment that nevertheless maintains a line of continuity in government action.
Claudio Zali to the Presidency in the fourth year of the legislature
With Claudio Zali's assumption of office, a new phase begins in the conduct of the Council of State's work. The role of President, in addition to formally representing the Government, also involves coordinating and directing collegial activities, while maintaining the principle of collegiality that characterizes the Cantonal Executive.
Zali, previously head of the Department of Land and Sea, takes office just before the end of the legislative session, with important dossiers still open and a strategic plan geared toward the medium term.
Marina Carobbio Guscetti appointed vice president
In conjunction with the change at the top, the role of Vice President will be entrusted to the State Councillor Marina Carobbio Shells. This appointment, too, follows the logic of internal rotation within the government.
The role of Vice President takes on particular importance in the absence of the President and contributes to the coordinated management of institutional activities.
A consolidated mechanism of cantonal politics
The annual rotation system for the Presidency of the Council of State reflects a consolidated tradition of Ticino politics, aimed at ensuring balance between the members of the Executive and enhancing the collegial dimension of government action.
The transition, scheduled for mid-April, is therefore part of a well-defined institutional framework, without direct implications for political balance, but with significant symbolic and organizational value for the functioning of cantonal institutions.
As the legislative session nears its conclusion, the new Presidency structure will guide the Ticino government through its final months, up until the next elections.
