Which city is the seat of Switzerland's federal government, serving as the country's de facto capital?
- Zurich
- Bern
- Geneva
- Basel
Why B? And why not the others?
Correct answer: B. Bern
Bern - and the twist is that Switzerland technically has no official capital at all. When the modern federal state formed in 1848, the founders deliberately avoided crowning any city, so Bern carries only the modest title of 'federal city'. It won the role partly because giving the seat of government to Zurich, already the economic powerhouse, would have concentrated too much power in one place; Bern offered a central location, support from French-speaking cantons, and free land for the government buildings. Zurich misleads as the largest and richest Swiss city, Geneva as the famous host of international organisations, and Basel as the third major hub - but the parliament sits in Bern.
Source: Britannica: Bern; swissinfo.ch: Why is Bern the capital of Switzerland (1848 federal city decision)