Born 1933 in Bienne, Felber was a teacher in Boudevilliers and Le Locle (canton of Neuchâtel).

[1] He was mayor of Le Locle from 1964 to 1980 (in charge of gas and electricity supply and then of Finance), member of the Cantonal Parliament of Neuchâtel (1965–1976).

He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 9 December 1987 as member of the Canton of Neuchâtel and for the Social Democratic Party.

During his time in office, he headed the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and was President of the Confederation in 1992.

Felber fought for Swiss membership in the European Economic Area, a proposal that was narrowly defeated in a referendum on 6 December 1992.