André Simonazzi
{{Short description|Swiss politician (1968–2024)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox Chancellor
| name = André Simonazzi
| image = André Simonazzi, 2021 (cropped).jpg
| imagesize =
| office = Vice-Chancellor of Switzerland
| term_start = 1 April 2009
| term_end = 10 May 2024
| alongside = Thomas Helbling (2009–2016), Jörg De Bernardi (2016–2019), Viktor Rossi (2019–2023)
| chancellor = Corina Casanova
Walter Thurnherr
Viktor Rossi
| predecessor = Oswald Sigg
| successor = Ursula Eggenberger
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1968|11|17|df=y}}
| birth_place = Monthey, Switzerland
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2024|5|10|1968|11|17|df=y}}
| death_place = Valais, Switzerland
}}
André Simonazzi (17 November 1968 – 10 May 2024) was a Swiss journalist born in Monthey. He held the office of Vice-Chancellor and spokesman for the Swiss Federal Council, from April 2009 until his death in 2024.
Life and career
}} He attended the [https://www.lyca.ch/ Collège de l’Abbaye] in St. Maurice, where he obtained a Latin and English baccalaureate in 1988.{{Cite web |last=FCh |first=Swiss Federal Chancellery |title=Vice Chancellor André Simonazzi |url=https://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/en/home/bk/vizekanzler-andre-simonazzi.html |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=www.bk.admin.ch |language=en}}
The eldest son of an economics teacher at the St. Maurice's Abbey, Simonazzi graduated at the Graduate Institute of International Studies in Geneva. After beginning a career as a journalist at the regional newspaper Le Nouvelliste, Simonazzi first joined the relief organization Caritas Switzerland's media department, before becoming its national spokesperson in 1998.
In 2004, he joined the Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), initially as deputy head of the information service, then as head between 2004 and 2009.
Simonazzi was appointed spokesman for the Swiss federal council on 12 November 2008, a position he took up on 1 April 2009 and retained until his death in 2024.{{Cite web |last=FCh |first=Swiss Federal Chancellery |title=Vice Chancellor André Simonazzi |url=https://www.bk.admin.ch/bk/en/home/bk/vizekanzler-andre-simonazzi.html |access-date=3 July 2022 |website=www.bk.admin.ch |language=en}}
Personal life and death
Simonazzi was of Italian descent.{{Cite news|url=https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/rencontre-un-nomade-pose-valises-berne|title = Rencontre avec un nomade qui pose ses valises à Berne|newspaper = Le Temps|date = 8 March 2009}} He was married. The marriage produced three children.{{cite web | url=https://www.20min.ch/story/auf-wanderung-vizekanzler-andre-simonazzi-ist-tot-103102644 | title=Bundesratssprecher Simonazzi verstirbt auf Wanderung | date=11 May 2024 }}
Simonazzi collapsed and died while hiking in the Swiss mountains on 10 May 2024, aged 55.{{Cite web |date=10 May 2024 |title=Bundesratssprecher und Vizekanzler – André Simonazzi ist tot |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/simonazzi-285323170162 |access-date=10 May 2024 |website=Tages-Anzeiger |language=de}}{{cite web | url=https://www.20min.ch/story/simonazzi-verstorben-er-hat-den-institutionen-aus-voller-ueberzeugung-gedient-103102651 | title=Bundesbern trauert um Simonazzi | date=11 May 2024 }}
References
{{Reflist|refs=
{{cite web|url=http://www.uvek.admin.ch/dokumentation/medienmitteilungen/artikel/20040623/01938/index.html?lang=de |title=UVEK - André Simonazzi |date=23 June 2004 |publisher=Swiss Federal Department of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications |language=German |accessdate=10 November 2009 }}{{dead link|date=July 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
}}
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{{Succession box
| title = Vice-Chancellor of Switzerland
| before = Oswald Sigg
| years = 2009–2024
| after = Ursula Eggenberger (ad interim)
}}
{{s-end}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Simonazzi, Andre}}
Category:Swiss people of Italian descent
Category:Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies alumni
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