Fathi Derder (4 December 1970 – 25 January 2025) was a Swiss journalist and politician associated with the Liberal‑Radical Party (PLR). He served as a member of the Swiss National Council from 5 December 2011 until 1 December 2019, representing the canton of Vaud.
Early life and education
Derder was born in Lausanne, Switzerland, to an Algerian father and a mother from the Swiss canton of Valais. He held dual Swiss‑Algerian nationality until 2000, when he renounced his Algerian passport for administrative reasons. He studied letters at the University of Lausanne, where he participated in the student radio station Fréquence Banane.
Journalistic career
Derder began his professional career with the newspaper La Côte and subsequently worked for Radio Lac and Radio Suisse Romande. In 2008 he became editor‑in‑chief of the television channel La Télé, and from May 2017 to July 2018 he held the same position at the financial newspaper Agefi. In August 2022 he co‑hosted the radio programme Drôle d'époque and, two months later, was appointed president of the Chambre cantonale consultative des immigrés. In November 2022 he succeeded Niniane Paeffgan as director of the Swiss Digital Initiative.
Political career
Derder was elected to the National Council in the 2011 Swiss federal election and joined the Science, Education and Culture Committee. He was re‑elected in 2015 after Olivier Français moved to the Council of States. In 2018 Derder announced he would not seek re‑election; his term concluded in December 2019, at which point he also resigned from the PLR.
Personal life
Derder was married twice, first to Isabelle Falconnier and later to Mélanie Chappuis, and had four children. He was a dual national until 2000 and maintained strong ties to both his Swiss and Algerian heritage.
Death
Fathi Derder died by suicide on 25 January 2025 at the age of 54. He left a suicide note in which he described his struggle with depression. His death was reported by several Swiss media outlets, including Radio Télévision Suisse (RTS) and local newspapers.
