Beat Jans

Jans was born on 12 July 1964, in Basel, Switzerland, to Anton Jans, a metalworker, and Maria Jans (née Ober), a sales associate. He was raised in a blue collar family living in Riehen. His mother immigrated to Switzerland after World War II from Germany.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-22 |title=Berset-Nachfolge – «Ich mag Herausforderungen sehr»: Beat Jans will in den Bundesrat |url=https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/medienkonferenz-zur-berset-nachfolge-kandidiert-beat-jans-fuer-den-bundesrat-491076984305 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Tages-Anzeiger |language=de |archive-date=2023-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925234051/https://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/medienkonferenz-zur-berset-nachfolge-kandidiert-beat-jans-fuer-den-bundesrat-491076984305 |url-status=live }}

He completed his apprenticeship as a farmer in 1985 and followed up on his studies at the Technical College for Tropical Agriculture from where he graduated as an agricultural technician in 1987. He graduated in Environmental Sciences from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich in 1994.{{Cite web|title=Beat Jans|url=https://www.sp-bs.ch/person/beat-jans|access-date=24 October 2020|publisher=Sozialdemokratische Partei Basel-Stadt|language=de|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026072055/https://www.sp-bs.ch/person/beat-jans|url-status=live}}

He was involved in the development projects of the Swiss {{Interlanguage link|Helvetas Swiss Intercooperation|lt=Helvetas|de||WD=}} in Paraguay and Haiti between 1987 and 1989 and was a member of the board at Pro Natura between 2000 and 2010, when he resigned to assume office as a member of the National Council of Switzerland.{{Cite web|title=Neuer SP-Nationalrat Beat Jans bleibt im Grossen Rat|url=https://www.onlinereports.ch/News.99+M50c2c041d85.0.html|access-date=21 November 2021|website=Online Reports|date=5 January 2010|language=de|archive-date=4 April 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220404003058/https://www.onlinereports.ch/News.99+M50c2c041d85.0.html|url-status=live}} From 2010 until 2015 he was a member of the board at {{Interlanguage link|eco.ch|lt=ecos|de||WD=}}.

Jans joined the SP in 1998 and became a member of the Grand Council of Basel Stadt in 2001. In the Grand Council, he was a member of the Commission of Economics and Taxes. He remained a member of the Grand Council after he joined the National Council of Switzerland in 2010 succeeding Ruedi Rechsteiner{{Cite news|title=Beat Jans geht für Rudolf Rechsteiner nach Bern|url=https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/schweiz/beat-jans-geht-fuer-rudolf-rechsteiner-nach-bern-4123339|access-date=24 October 2020|website=Aargauer Zeitung|language=de-ch|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026130403/https://www.aargauerzeitung.ch/schweiz/beat-jans-geht-fuer-rudolf-rechsteiner-nach-bern-4123339|url-status=live}} and only resigned in 2011.{{Cite web |title=Beat Jans |url=https://www.parlament.ch/en/biografie/beat-jans/4032 |access-date=21 November 2021 |publisher=Federal Assembly |archive-date=22 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022013422/https://www.parlament.ch/en/biografie/beat-jans/4032 |url-status=live }} He was re-elected to the National Council in the federal elections in 2011,{{Cite web|title=Wahlen 2011|url=https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/resultate-archiv/wahlen-2011.html|access-date=24 October 2020|publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt|language=de|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026174539/https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/resultate-archiv/wahlen-2011.html|url-status=live}} 2015{{Cite web|title=Wahlen 2015|url=https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/resultate-archiv/wahlen-2015.html|access-date=24 October 2020|publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt|language=de|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026214006/https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/resultate-archiv/wahlen-2015.html|url-status=live}} and 2019.{{Cite web|title=Wahlen 2019|url=https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/resultate-archiv/wahlen-2019.html|access-date=24 October 2020|publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt|language=de|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027152531/https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/resultate-archiv/wahlen-2019.html|url-status=dead}} In the National Council, he was also member of the Commission of Economics and Taxes.{{Cite web|date=23 November 2016|title=Mitglieder der Kommission für Wirtschaft und Abgaben des Nationalrates (WAK-NR)|url=https://www.infosperber.ch/data/attachements/kommmitglieder_nr_wak.pdf|url-status=live|access-date=21 November 2021|publisher=Nationalrat|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200927234529/http://www.infosperber.ch/data/attachements/kommmitglieder_nr_wak.pdf |archive-date=2020-09-27 }} As it became clear that Anita Fetz would not stand for another term in the Council of States for Basel-Stadt,{{Cite web|date=20 June 2019|title=Polit-Urgestein tritt zurück - Fetz ist zuversichtlich, dass es keinen Frauenstreik mehr braucht|url=https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/polit-urgestein-tritt-zurueck-fetz-ist-zuversichtlich-dass-es-keinen-frauenstreik-mehr-braucht|access-date=24 October 2020|website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF)|language=de|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027033850/https://www.srf.ch/news/schweiz/polit-urgestein-tritt-zurueck-fetz-ist-zuversichtlich-dass-es-keinen-frauenstreik-mehr-braucht|url-status=live}} he put himself forward as a candidate, but later withdrew to enable a female candidate for the SP.{{Cite web|title=Weg frei für Eva Herzog – Beat Jans zieht Ständeratskandidatur zurück|url=https://www.bzbasel.ch/basel/basel-stadt/weg-frei-fuer-eva-herzog-beat-jans-zieht-staenderatskandidatur-zurueck-133962238|access-date=24 October 2020|website=Zeitung für die Region Basel|language=de-ch|archive-date=26 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201026160242/https://www.bzbasel.ch/basel/basel-stadt/weg-frei-fuer-eva-herzog-beat-jans-zieht-staenderatskandidatur-zurueck-133962238|url-status=live}} He was again a candidate for the National Council and Eva Herzog for the Council of States. Both candidacies were successful in the October 2019 federal elections.{{Cite web|title=Linker Aufschwung für Basel im Nationalrat ++ Katja Christ neu dabei, Herzog Ständerätin ++ Baselbiet muss in den 2. Wahlgang|url=https://www.bzbasel.ch/basel/basel-stadt/linker-aufschwung-fuer-basel-im-nationalrat-katja-christ-neu-dabei-herzog-staenderaetin-baselbiet-muss-in-den-2-wahlgang-135835369|access-date=24 October 2020|website=Zeitung für die Region Basel|language=de-ch|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027021442/https://www.bzbasel.ch/basel/basel-stadt/linker-aufschwung-fuer-basel-im-nationalrat-katja-christ-neu-dabei-herzog-staenderaetin-baselbiet-muss-in-den-2-wahlgang-135835369|url-status=live}}

He was elected vice-president of the SP in 2015, succeeding Jaqueline Fehr,{{Cite web|last=Schultheiss|first=Jeremias|date=5 December 2015|title=SP-Delegierte wählen Beat Jans zum Vizepräsidenten|url=https://tageswoche.ch/allgemein/sp-delegierte-waehlen-beat-jans-zum-vizepraesidenten/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107035705/https://tageswoche.ch/allgemein/sp-delegierte-waehlen-beat-jans-zum-vizepraesidenten/ |archive-date=2018-11-07 |access-date=24 October 2020|website=TagesWoche|language=de-CH}} but resigned in 2015 when the party abolished the offices of the president and vice-president and instituted a co-presidency of Mattea Meyer and Cédric Wermuth.{{Cite web|title=SP-Präsidium: Duo Mattea Meyer und Cédric Wermuth folgt auf Christian Levrat|date=17 October 2020|url=https://www.sp-ps.ch/de/publikationen/medienmitteilungen/sp-praesidium-duo-mattea-meyer-und-cedric-wermuth-folgt-auf|access-date=24 October 2020|publisher=SP Schweiz|language=de|archive-date=22 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022152106/https://www.sp-ps.ch/de/publikationen/medienmitteilungen/sp-praesidium-duo-mattea-meyer-und-cedric-wermuth-folgt-auf|url-status=live}}

He was elected into the Executive Council of Basel-Stadt on the 25 October 2020{{Cite web|title=Wahlen 25. Oktober 2020|url=https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/wahlen-2020.html|access-date=25 October 2020|publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt|language=de|archive-date=28 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201028210233/https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/politische-rechte/wahlen-abstimmungen/wahlen-2020.html|url-status=dead}} and as its president in November 2020.{{Cite web|title=Zweiter Wahlgang: Stephanie Eymann, Kaspar Sutter und Esther Keller in den Regierungsrat gewählt, Beat Jans ist neuer Regierungspräsident|url=https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/nm/2020-zweiter-wahlgang-stephanie-eymann-kaspar-sutter-und-esther-keller-in-den-regierungsrat-gewaehlt-beat-jans-ist-neuer-regierungspraesident-stk.html|access-date=1 January 2021|publisher=Kanton Basel-Stadt|language=de|archive-date=13 December 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213045111/https://www.staatskanzlei.bs.ch/nm/2020-zweiter-wahlgang-stephanie-eymann-kaspar-sutter-und-esther-keller-in-den-regierungsrat-gewaehlt-beat-jans-ist-neuer-regierungspraesident-stk.html|url-status=dead}} Sarah Wyss of the SP succeeded him, after he resigned as a member of the National Council in December 2020.{{Cite web|title=Basler SP-Politikerin Sarah Wyss im Nationalrat vereidigt|url=https://www.parlament.ch/de/services/news/Seiten/2020/20201218080739882194158159038_bsd035.aspx|access-date=21 November 2021|publisher=Federal Assembly|date=18 December 2020|language=de|archive-date=17 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220317173100/https://www.parlament.ch/de/services/news/Seiten/2020/20201218080739882194158159038_bsd035.aspx|url-status=live}}

{{See also|2023 Swiss Federal Council election}}

During the 2023 Swiss federal election he became an official candidate for Federal Council to succeed Alain Berset for the Social Democratic Party.{{Cite web |last=Zatti |first=Zara |date=2023-12-13 |title=Politologin über die Wahlchancen von Jans: «Zurückhaltender Optimismus ist angebracht» |url=https://www.bzbasel.ch/basel/basel-stadt/bundesratswahlen-politologin-ueber-die-chancen-dass-beat-jans-bundesrat-wird-zurueckhaltender-optimismus-ist-angebracht-ld.2555042 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=bz Basel |language=de |archive-date=2024-02-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240208100207/https://www.bzbasel.ch/basel/basel-stadt/bundesratswahlen-politologin-ueber-die-chancen-dass-beat-jans-bundesrat-wird-zurueckhaltender-optimismus-ist-angebracht-ld.2555042?reduced=true |url-status=live }} The election was held on 13 December 2023 and he was the official nominee together with fellow politician Jon Pult. Three ballot rounds were required to determine the successor. During the second ballot round, Jans was ahead of his counter parties receiving 112 votes, opposing candidate Daniel Jositsch received 70 votes (presumably from the Swiss People's Party and The Liberals).{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=Beat Jans baut Vorsprung im zweiten Wahlgang aus |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/alle-news-in-kuerze/beat-jans-baut-vorsprung-im-zweiten-wahlgang-aus/49055494 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=de |archive-date=2023-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213165754/https://www.swissinfo.ch/ger/alle-news-in-kuerze/beat-jans-baut-vorsprung-im-zweiten-wahlgang-aus/49055494 |url-status=live }} He was ultimately elected to Federal Council during the third round of ballot.{{Cite web |last=Pfaff |first=Isabel |date=2023-12-13 |title=Wahl in der Schweiz: Beat Jans wird Bundesrat |url=https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/schweiz-wahl-beat-jans-1.6318844 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Süddeutsche.de |language=de |archive-date=2023-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213132819/https://www.sueddeutsche.de/politik/schweiz-wahl-beat-jans-1.6318844 |url-status=live }}{{Cite news |date=December 13, 2023 |title=Swiss name new president and cabinet members |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/swiss-name-new-president-cabinet-members-2023-12-13/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213165754/https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/swiss-name-new-president-cabinet-members-2023-12-13/ |archive-date=13 December 2023 |access-date=8 February 2024 |work=Reuters}}{{Cite web |last=Keystone-SDA |date=2023-12-13 |title=Beat Jans chosen as Switzerland's new cabinet minister |url=https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/beat-jans-chosen-as-switzerland-s-new-cabinet-minister/49055714 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=SWI swissinfo.ch |language=en |archive-date=2023-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213115249/https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/beat-jans-chosen-as-switzerland-s-new-cabinet-minister/49055714 |url-status=live }} Jans assumed office on 1 January 2024.

He gained a reputation as a unifier during his term as head of the Basel-Stadt Socialist Party, but he is considered very left-wing by his political opponents.{{Cite news |date=2023-09-14 |title=Conseil fédéral: le duel entre Matthias Aebischer et Beat Jans peut commencer - Le Temps |url=https://www.letemps.ch/suisse/conseil-federal-le-duel-entre-matthias-aebischer-et-beat-jans-peut-commencer |access-date=2025-06-09 |language=fr |issn=1423-3967}} He notably supported the federal popular initiative on responsible multinationals submitted to a vote in November 2020. As a federal councillor, he was sharply criticized for a controversial proposal to extend data retention, which critics fear will lead to disproportionate surveillance without legal basis.{{Cite web |date=2025-04-24 |title=«Hätte ich von Trump erwartet»: Bundesrat Jans will Internet stärker überwachen |url=https://www.20min.ch/story/internetueberwachung-beat-jans-plant-ausbau-103326918 |access-date=2025-06-09 |website=20 Minuten |language=de}}

On 11 June 2004, Jans married American-born Tracy Renee Glass (b. 1972), a biostatistician originally from Miami, Florida, whom he met while hiking in Hawaii. They had a long distance relationship for two years before she relocated to Basel to take a position at Novartis, a large pharmaceutical company. She currently works as team lead at Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-13 |title=Beat Jans: Drei Frauen zuhause – so tickt der neue Bundesrat |url=https://www.20min.ch/story/beat-jans-drei-frauen-zu-hause-so-tickt-der-neue-bundesrat-209213842314 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=20 Minuten |language=de |archive-date=2023-12-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231213162204/http://www.20min.ch/story/beat-jans-drei-frauen-zu-hause-so-tickt-der-neue-bundesrat-209213842314 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |date=2023-12-11 |title=Treffen mit der Frau von Beat Jans – «Meiner Familie in den USA musste ich erklären, dass ich nicht die First Lady werde» |url=https://www.bazonline.ch/treffen-mit-der-frau-von-beat-jans-meiner-familie-in-den-usa-musste-ich-erklaeren-dass-ich-nicht-die-first-lady-werde-991648164414 |access-date=2023-12-13 |website=Basler Zeitung |language=de |archive-date=2023-12-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231212111208/https://www.bazonline.ch/treffen-mit-der-frau-von-beat-jans-meiner-familie-in-den-usa-musste-ich-erklaeren-dass-ich-nicht-die-first-lady-werde-991648164414 |url-status=live }} They have two daughters.{{Cite web|title=SP-Nationalrat Beat Jans wagt einen Seiltanz mit seiner Familie|url=https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/schweiz/sp-nationalrat-beat-jans-wagt-einen-seiltanz-mit-seiner-familie|access-date=24 October 2020|website=Schweizer Illustrierte|language=de|archive-date=27 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027060950/https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/schweiz/sp-nationalrat-beat-jans-wagt-einen-seiltanz-mit-seiner-familie|url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=SP-Nationalrat Beat Jans wagt mit seiner Familie einen Seiltanz - 9 Promis, 99 Tipps für Ferien in der Schweiz |url=https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/schweiz/sp-nationalrat-beat-jans-wagt-mit-seiner-familie-einen-seiltanz |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Schweizer Illustrierte |language=de-CH |archive-date=2023-08-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230828152844/https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/stars/schweiz/sp-nationalrat-beat-jans-wagt-mit-seiner-familie-einen-seiltanz |url-status=live }} His wife and his children are Swiss-American dual citizens.see American nationality law for further information{{Cite web |date=2021-08-06 |title=Beat Jans über seine Dilemmas – «In den letzten 17 Jahren bin ich sicher zehnmal in die USA geflogen» |url=https://www.bazonline.ch/in-den-letzten-17-jahren-bin-ich-sicher-zehnmal-in-die-usa-geflogen-364933516233 |access-date=2023-09-25 |website=Basler Zeitung |language=de |archive-date=2023-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230925234051/https://www.bazonline.ch/in-den-letzten-17-jahren-bin-ich-sicher-zehnmal-in-die-usa-geflogen-364933516233 |url-status=live }}{{Cite web |last=Lämbgen |first=Julian |title=Tracy Jans: «Ich würde nicht die First Lady werden» |url=https://www.nau.ch/politik/regional/tracy-jans-ich-wurde-nicht-die-first-lady-werden-66667959 |access-date=2024-02-08 |website=Nau |language=de}}

{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-off}}

{{s-bef|before=Alain Berset}}

{{s-ttl|title=Member of the Swiss Federal Council|years=2024–present}}

{{s-inc|rows=2}}

|-

{{s-bef|before=Élisabeth Baume-Schneider}}

{{s-ttl|title=Head of the Department of Justice and Police|years=2024–present}}

{{s-end}}

{{Swiss Federal Council}}

{{Heads of state of republics}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Jans, Beat}}

Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:Members of the Federal Council (Switzerland)

Category:Justice ministers of Switzerland

Category:Social Democratic Party of Switzerland politicians

Category:Politicians from Basel-Stadt

Category:Swiss people of German descent

Category:ETH Zurich alumni

Category:Members of the National Council (Switzerland) 2011–2015

Category:Members of the National Council (Switzerland) 2015–2019