Didier Burkhalter, born 17 April 1960, graduated in economics from the University of Neuchâtel, exercised different academic functions and private sector positions before being elected in 1991 to Neuchâtel communal council which he presided on three occasions (1994/1995, 1998/1999, 2001/2002).

He has been a member of the FDP since 1985. As part of his political activities he has also sat in communal (Hauterive NE), cantonal (Neuchâtel) and federal parliaments.

Didier Burkhalter has sat in both chambers of the Federal Assembly. He was elected to the National Council in 2003. In 2007, he was elected to the Council of States. Between 2005 and 2009, he was a member of the Swiss delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).

He was elected to the Federal Council by the United Federal Assembly on 16 September 2009 and took over as head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs on 1 November 2009.