The Loterie Romande held its General Meeting this Thursday, May 15, 2025, under the chairmanship of Jean-René Fournier. On this occasion, the members of the six French-speaking cantons elected François Longchamp as President of the Loterie Romande.

A well-known political figure in French-speaking Switzerland and former President of the Geneva State Council, François Longchamp will take office on January 1, 2026. At the Loterie Romande General Meeting, which took place in Delémont this Thursday, May 15, 2025, the members of the six French-speaking cantons were called upon to elect a new President.

They elected François Longchamp as President of the Loterie Romande. A State Councilor of the Canton of Geneva from 2005 to 2018, he chaired the Cantonal Government from 2013 to 2018. The qualities and experience required for this position of President were decisive in the General Assembly’s decision to elect François Longchamp.

At 62, he possesses the leadership and communication skills essential to the institution and its strong presence in the six French-speaking cantons. His commitment to the political and economic fabric of French-speaking Switzerland, as well as his extensive experience in leadership positions, are essential assets for ensuring the public utility mission of the Loterie Romande, by offering a legal and secure gaming service that protects the population from addiction, with all profits donated to public utility projects in French-speaking Switzerland.

With a degree in law, François Longchamp was appointed Secretary General of the Department of Social Action and Health of the Canton of Geneva in 1993. He then headed the regional section of the daily newspaper Le Temps and joined the Foyer-Handicap Foundation in 2002 as Managing Director.

Elected to the Geneva State Council in 2005, he chaired the Cantonal Government between 2013 and 2018. During his term, he also chaired the Board of Directors of Geneva International Airport and participated in the Conference of Romandie Lotteries and Gaming (CRLJ). Between 2018 and 2024, he chaired the Foundation Board of Aventinus, owner of the daily newspaper Le Temps, and the Board of Directors of Palexpo SA in Geneva.

Since 2019, François Longchamp has represented the Canton of Geneva on the Board of Directors of the Loterie Romande. Jean-René Fournier, President of the Loterie Romande since 2018 and until December 31, 2025, has decided not to seek a third term. The members of the Loterie Romande wish to express their deep gratitude for his unwavering commitment to the institution and its public service mission.