List of members of the Swiss Federal Council

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The seven members of the Swiss Federal Council (German : Schweizerischer Bundesrat; French : Conseil fédéral suisse; Italian : Consiglio federale svizzero; Romansh : Cussegl federal svizzer) constitute the federal government of Switzerland and collectively serve as the country's head of state. Each of the seven Federal Councillors heads a department of the Swiss federal administration. [1]

Contents

The current Swiss Federal Councillors are: Guy Parmelin (first elected in 2015), Ignazio Cassis (first elected in 2017), Viola Amherd (first elected in 2018), Karin Keller-Sutter (first elected in 2018), Albert Rösti (first elected in 2022), Élisabeth Baume-Schneider (first elected in 2022), and Beat Jans (first elected in 2023)

The members of the Federal Council are elected for a term of four years by both chambers of the federal parliament sitting together as the United Federal Assembly. Each Federal Councillor is elected individually by secret ballot by an absolute majority of votes. People elected to the Federal Council are considered a Federal Councillor even if they decline the election. [2] Accordingly, the five persons who were elected but never assumed office are listed in a separate table below. For the same reason, the principal table only records the date of election and not the date on which the Federal Councillors assumed their office.

Once elected for a four-year-term, Federal Councillors can neither be voted out of office by a motion of no confidence nor can they be impeached. Reelection is possible for an indefinite number of terms. The Federal Assembly has decided not to reelect a sitting Federal Councillor four times and only twice (in 2003 and 2007) since the beginning of the 20th century. In practice, therefore, Federal Councillors serve until they decide to resign and retire to private life, usually after three to five terms of office. [3]

Members

No.NamePortrait Canton [4] Election Left officeDepartment headed [5] Party Presidency Notes Seq [6]
1 Jonas Furrer Jonas Furrer.gif ZH 16 November 184825 July 1861 Political [7] Justice and Police FDP/PRD 1848–1849
1852
1855
1858
Died in office.A01
2 Ulrich Ochsenbein Ulrich Ochsenbein.gif BE 16 November 18486 December 1854 Military FDP/PRD Not reelected. [8] B01
3 Henri Druey Daniel-Henri Druey.gif VD 16 November 184829 March 1855 Justice and PolicePolitical [7] Finance FDP/PRD 1850Died in office.C01
4 Josef Munzinger Martin Munziger.gif SO 16 November 18486 February 1855 FinancePolitical [7] Posts and ConstructionTrade and Customs FDP/PRD 1851Died in office.D01
5 Stefano Franscini Stefano Franscini.gif TI 16 November 184819 July 1857 Home Affairs FDP/PRD Died in office.E01
6 Friedrich Frey-Herosé Friedrich Frey-Herose.gif AG 16 November 184831 December 1866 Trade and CustomsPolitical [7] Military FDP/PRD 1854
1860
F01
7 Wilhelm Matthias Naeff Naeff.gif SG 16 November 184831 December 1875 Posts and ConstructionPolitical [7] Trade and CustomsPostsFinance and CustomsRailway and Trade FDP/PRD 1853G01
8 Jakob Stämpfli Jakob Stampfli.gif BE 6 December 185431 December 1863 Justice and PolicePolitical [7] FinanceMilitary FDP/PRD 1856
1859
1862
B02
9 Constant Fornerod Constant Fornerod.gif VD 11 July 185531 October 1867 Trade and CustomsPolitical [7] FinanceMilitary FDP/PRD 1857
1863
1867
C02
10 Melchior Josef Martin Knüsel Melchior Josef Martin Knusel.gif LU 14 July 185531 December 1875 FinanceTrade and CustomsJustice and PolicePolitical [7] Home Affairs FDP/PRD 1861
1866
Elected after Johann Jakob Stehlin declined the election.D02
11 Giovanni Battista Pioda Giovanni Battista Pioda.gif TI 30 July 185726 January 1864 Home Affairs FDP/PRD E02
12 Jakob Dubs Jakob Dubs.gif ZH 30 July 186128 May 1872 Justice and PolicePolitical [7] Home AffairsPosts FDP/PRD 1864
1868
1870
A02
13 Karl Schenk Karl Schenk.gif BE 12 December 186318 July 1895 Home AffairsPoliticalFinanceRailway and Trade FDP/PRD 1865
1871
1874
1878
1885
1893
Died in office. Longest serving member.B03
14 Jean-Jacques Challet-Venel Challet-Venel.gif GE 12 July 18647 December 1872 FinancePosts FDP/PRD Not reelected. [9] E03
15 Emil Welti Emil Welti.gif AG 8 December 186631 December 1891 MilitaryPoliticalPosts and TelegraphJustice and Police FDP/PRD 1869
1872
1876
1880
1884
1891
F02
16 Victor Ruffy Victor Ruffy.gif VD 6 December 186729 December 1869 FinanceMilitary FDP/PRD Died in office.C03
17 Paul Cérésole Paul Ceresole.gif VD 1 February 187031 December 1875 FinanceMilitaryPolitical [7] Justice and Police FDP/PRD 1873C04
18 Johann Jakob Scherer Johann Jakob Scherer.gif ZH 12 July 187223 December 1878 FinanceRailway and TradePolitical [7] Military FDP/PRD 1875Died in office.A03
19 Eugène Borel Eugene Borel.gif NE 7 December 187231 December 1875 Posts and Telegraph FDP/PRD E04
20 Joachim Heer Joachim Heer.gif GL 10 December 187531 December 1878 Posts and TelegraphPolitical [7] Railway and Trade FDP/PRD 1877D03
21 Fridolin Anderwert Fridolin Anderwert.gif TG 10 December 187525 December 1880 Justice and Police FDP/PRD Died in office
(committed suicide). [10]
G02
22 Bernhard Hammer Bernhard Hammer.gif SO 10 December 187531 December 1890 Finance and CustomsPolitical FDP/PRD 1879
1889
E05
23 Numa Droz Numa Droz.gif NE 18 December 187518 December 1892 Home AffairsTrade and AgriculturePolitical FDP/PRD 1881
1887
Elected after Louis Ruchonnet and Charles Estoppey declined the election.C05
24 Simeon Bavier Bavier.gif GR 10 December 18785 January 1883 Finance and CustomsPosts and RailwaysPolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1882D04
25 Wilhelm Hertenstein Hertenstein.gif ZH 21 March 187927 November 1888 Military FDP/PRD 1888Died in office.A04
26 Louis Ruchonnet Ruchonnet.gif VD 3 March 188114 September 1893 Trade and AgricultureJustice and PolicePolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1883
1890
Elected after Karl Hoffmann declined his election. Died in office.G03
27 Adolf Deucher Deucher.gif TG 10 April 188310 July 1912 Justice and PolicePosts and RailwaysTrade and AgriculturePolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1886
1897
1903
1909
Died in office.D05
28 Walter Hauser Hauser.gif ZH 13 December 188822 October 1902 MilitaryFinance and CustomsPolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1892
1900
Died in office.A05
29 Emil Frey Emil Frey.gif BL 11 December 189011 March 1897 Military FDP/PRD 1894E06
30 Josef Zemp Joseph Zemp.gif LU 17 December 189117 June 1908 Posts and RailwaysPolitical [7] CVP/PDC 1895
1902
F03
31 Adrien Lachenal Adrien Lachenal.gif GE 15 December 189231 December 1899 ExteriorTrade, Industry and AgricultureHome Affairs FDP/PRD 1896C06
32 Eugène Ruffy Eugene Ruffy.gif VD 14 December 189331 October 1899 Justice and PoliceHome AffairsPolitical [7] Military FDP/PRD 1898G04
33 Eduard Müller Eduard Muller.gif BE 16 August 18959 November 1919 Justice and PoliceMilitaryPolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1899
1907
1913
Died in office.B04
34 Ernst Brenner Ernst Brenner.gif BS 25 March 189711 March 1911 Justice and PolicePolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1901
1908
Died in office.E07
35 Robert Comtesse Robert Comtesse.gif NE 14 December 18994 March 1912 Finance and CustomsJustice and PolicePosts and RailwaysPolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1904
1910
C07
36 Marc-Émile Ruchet Marc Ruchet.jpg VD 14 December 18999 July 1912 Home AffairsFinance and CustomsPolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1905
1911
G05
37 Ludwig Forrer Ludwig Forrer.jpg ZH 11 December 19027 December 1917 Trade, Industry and AgricultureHome AffairsPolitical [7] MilitaryJustice and PolicePosts and Railways FDP/PRD 1906
1912
A06
38 Josef Anton Schobinger Josef Anton Schobinger.gif LU 17 June 190827 November 1911 Justice and PoliceTrade, Industry and AgricultureFinance and CustomsHome Affairs CVP/PDC F04
39 Arthur Hoffmann Arthur Hoffmann.gif SG 4 April 191119 June 1917 Justice and PoliceMilitaryPolitical FDP/PRD 1914E08
40 Giuseppe Motta Giuseppe Motta.gif TI 14 December 191123 January 1940 Finance and CustomsPolitical CVP/PDC 1915
1920
1927
1932
1937
Died in office.F05
41 Louis Perrier Louis Perrier.gif NE 12 March 191216 May 1913 Posts and RailwaysHome Affairs FDP/PRD C08
42 Camille Decoppet Camille Decoppet.gif VD 17 July 19127 November 1919 Home AffairsJustice and PoliceMilitary FDP/PRD 1916G06
43 Edmund Schulthess Edmund Schulthess.gif AG 17 July 191215 April 1935 Trade, Industry and Agriculture FDP/PRD 1917
1921
1928
1933
D06
44 Felix Calonder Felix-Louis Calonder.gif GR 12 June 191312 February 1920 Home AffairsPolitical [7] FDP/PRD 1918C09
45 Gustave Ador Gustave Ador.gif GE 26 June 191731 December 1919 PoliticalHome Affairs LPS/PLS 1919E09
46 Robert Haab Robert Haab.gif ZH 13 December 191731 December 1929 Posts and Railways FDP/PRD 1922
1929
A07
47 Karl Scheurer Karl Scheurer.gif BE 11 December 191914 November 1929 Military FDP/PRD 1923Died in office.B05
48 Ernest Chuard Ernest Chuard.gif VD 11 December 191931 December 1928 Home Affairs FDP/PRD 1924G07
49 Jean-Marie Musy Jean-Marie Musy.gif FR 11 December 191930 April 1934 Finance and Customs CVP/PDC 1925
1930
E10
50 Heinrich Häberlin Heinrich Haberlin.gif TG 12 February 192012 March 1934 Justice and Police FDP/PRD 1926
1931
C10
51 Marcel Pilet-Golaz Marcel Pilet-Golaz.gif VD 13 December 19287 November 1944 Home AffairsPosts and RailwaysPolitical FDP/PRD 1934
1940
G08
52 Rudolf Minger Rudolf Minger.gif BE 12 December 192931 December 1940 Military SVP/UDC 1935B06
53 Albert Meyer Albert Meyer.gif ZH 12 December 192931 December 1938 Home AffairsFinance and Customs FDP/PRD 1936A08
54 Johannes Baumann Johannes Baumann.gif AR 22 March 193431 December 1940 Justice and Police FDP/PRD 1938C11
55 Philipp Etter Philipp Etter.gif ZG 28 March 193419 November 1959 Home Affairs CVP/PDC 1939
1942
1947
1953
E11
56 Hermann Obrecht Hermann Obrecht.gif SO 4 April 193520 June 1940 Economic Affairs FDP/PRD D07
57 Ernst Wetter Ernst Wetter.gif ZH 15 December 193831 December 1943 Finance and Customs FDP/PRD 1941A09
58 Enrico Celio Enrico Celio.gif TI 22 February 194023 June 1950 Posts and Railways CVP/PDC 1943
1948
F06
59 Walther Stampfli Walther Stampfli.gif SO 18 July 194018 November 1947 Economic Affairs FDP/PRD 1944D08
60 Eduard von Steiger Eduard von Steiger.gif BE 10 December 19409 November 1951 Justice and Police SVP/UDC 1945
1951
B07
61 Karl Kobelt Karl Kobelt.gif SG 10 December 19405 November 1954 Military FDP/PRD 1946
1952
C12
62 Ernst Nobs Ernst Nobs.gif ZH 15 December 194313 December 1951 Finance and Customs SPS/PSS 1949A10
63 Max Petitpierre Max Petitpierre.gif NE 14 December 194430 June 1961 Political FDP/PRD 1950
1955
1960
G09
64 Rodolphe Rubattel Rodolphe Rubattel.gif VD 11 December 19471 November 1954 Economic Affairs FDP/PRD 1954D09
65 Josef Escher Josef Escher.gif VS 14 September 195026 November 1954 Posts and Railways CVP/PDC F07
66 Markus Feldmann Markus Feldmann.gif BE 13 December 19513 November 1958 Justice and Police SVP/UDC 1956B08
67 Max Weber Max Weber.gif ZH 13 December 19518 December 1953 Finance and Customs SPS/PSS A11
68 Hans Streuli Hans Streuli.gif ZH 22 December 195319 November 1959 Finance and Customs FDP/PRD 1957A12
69 Thomas Holenstein Thomas Holenstein.gif SG 16 December 195420 November 1959 Economic Affairs CVP/PDC 1958F08
70 Paul Chaudet Paul Chaudet.gif VD 16 December 195428 November 1966 Military FDP/PRD 1959
1962
D10
71 Giuseppe Lepori Giuseppe Lepori.gif TI 16 December 195424 November 1959 Posts and Railways CVP/PDC C13
72 Friedrich Traugott Wahlen Friedrich Traugott Wahlen.gif BE 11 December 195831 December 1965 Justice and PoliceEconomic AffairsPolitical SVP/UDC 1961B09
73 Jean Bourgknecht Jean Bourgknecht.gif FR 17 December 19593 September 1962 Finance and Research CVP/PDC E12
74 Willy Spühler Willy Spuhler.gif ZH 17 December 195931 January 1970 Posts and RailwaysPolitical SPS/PSS 1963
1968
A13
75 Ludwig von Moos Ludwig von Moos.gif OW 17 December 195931 December 1971 Justice and Police CVP/PDC 1964
1969
F09
76 Hans-Peter Tschudi Hans-Peter Tschudi.gif BS 17 December 195931 December 1973 Home Affairs SPS/PSS 1965
1970
C14
77 Hans Schaffner Hans Schaffner.gif AG 15 June 196131 December 1969 Economic Affairs FDP/PRD 1966G10
78 Roger Bonvin Roger Bonvin.gif VS 27 September 196231 December 1973 Finance and CustomsTransport, Energy, Communications CVP/PDC 1967
1973
E13
79 Rudolf Gnägi Rudolf Gnagi.gif BE 8 December 196531 December 1979 Transport, Energy, CommunicationsMilitary SVP/UDC 1971
1976
B10
80 Nello Celio Nello Celio.gif TI 15 December 196631 December 1973 MilitaryFinance and Customs FDP/PRD 1972D11
81 Pierre Graber Pierre Graber.gif NE 10 December 196931 January 1978 Political SPS/PSS 1975A14
82 Ernst Brugger Ernst Brugger.gif ZH 10 December 196931 January 1978 Economic Affairs FDP/PRD 1974G11
83 Kurt Furgler Kurt Furgler.gif SG 8 December 197131 December 1986 Justice and PoliceEconomic Affairs CVP/PDC 1977
1981
1985
F10
84 Willi Ritschard Willi Ritschard.gif SO 5 December 19733 October 1983 Transport, Energy, CommunicationsFinance SPS/PSS 1978Died in office.C15
85 Hans Hürlimann Hans Hurlimann.gif ZG 5 December 197331 December 1982 Home Affairs CVP/PDC 1979E14
86 Georges-André Chevallaz Georges-Andre Chevallaz.gif VD 5 December 197331 December 1983 Finance and CustomsMilitary FDP/PRD 1980D12
87 Fritz Honegger Fritz Honegger.gif ZH 7 December 197731 December 1982 Economic Affairs FDP/PRD 1982G12
88 Pierre Aubert Pierre Aubert.gif NE 7 December 197731 December 1987 Political SPS/PSS 1983
1987
A15
89 Leon Schlumpf Leon Schlumpf.gif GR 5 December 197931 December 1987 Transport, Energy, Communications SVP/UDC 1984B11
90 Alphons Egli Alphons Egli.gif LU 8 December 198231 December 1986 Home Affairs CVP/PDC 1986E15
91 Rudolf Friedrich Rudolf Friedrich.gif ZH 8 December 198220 October 1984 Justice and Police FDP/PRD G13
92 Otto Stich Otto Stich.gif SO 7 December 198331 October 1995 Finance SPS/PSS 1988
1994
C16
93 Jean-Pascal Delamuraz Jean-Pascal Delamuraz.gif VD 7 December 198330 March 1998 MilitaryEconomic Affairs FDP/PRD 1989
1996
D13
94 Elisabeth Kopp Elisabeth Kopp.gif ZH 2 October 198412 January 1989 Justice and Police FDP/PRD First female Federal Councillor.G14
95 Arnold Koller Arnold Koller.gif AI 10 December 198613 January 1999 Justice and PoliceMilitary CVP/PDC 1990
1997
F11
96 Flavio Cotti Flavio Cotti.gif TI 10 December 198613 January 1999 Home AffairsForeign Affairs CVP/PDC 1991
1998
E16
97 René Felber Rene Felber.gif NE 9 December 198731 March 1993 Foreign Affairs SPS/PSS 1992A16
98 Adolf Ogi Adolf Ogi.png BE 9 December 198731 December 2000 Transport, Energy, CommunicationsMilitary SVP/UDC 1993
2000
B12
99 Kaspar Villiger Kaspar Villiger.gif LU 1 February 198931 December 2003 MilitaryFinance FDP/PRD 1995
2002
G15
100 Ruth Dreifuss Ruth Dreifuss.gif GE 10 March 199331 December 2002 Home Affairs SPS/PSS 1999Elected after Francis Matthey declined the election.A17
101 Moritz Leuenberger Moritz Leuenberger 2007.jpg ZH 27 September 19951 November 2010 Transport, Energy, Communications SPS/PSS 2001
2006
C17
102 Pascal Couchepin BR Pascal Couchepin.jpg VS 11 March 199831 October 2009 Economic AffairsHome Affairs FDP/PRD 2003
2008
D14
103 Ruth Metzler Ruth Metzler.gif AI 11 March 199931 December 2003 Justice and Police CVP/PDC Not reelected. [11] F12
104 Joseph Deiss Joseph Deiss.gif FR 11 March 199931 July 2006 Foreign AffairsEconomic Affairs CVP/PDC 2004E17
105 Samuel Schmid BR-Samuel-Schmid.jpg BE 6 December 200031 December 2008 [12] Defence, Civil Protection and Sport SVP/UDC 2005Switched to the BDP/PBD in 2008.B13
106 Micheline Calmy-Rey BR Micheline Calmy-Rey.jpg GE 4 December 200231 December 2011 Foreign Affairs SPS/PSS 2007
2011
A18
107 Christoph Blocher Christoph Blocher (Bundesrat, 2004).jpg ZH 10 December 200331 December 2007 Justice and Police SVP/UDC Not reelected. [13] F13
108 Hans-Rudolf Merz Hans-Rudolf-Merz.jpg AR 10 December 20031 November 2010 Finance FDP/PRD 2009G16
109 Doris Leuthard BR Doris Leuthard.jpg AG 14 June 200631 December 2018 Economic AffairsEnvironment, Transport, Energy and Communications CVP/PDC 2010
2017
E18
110 Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, 2009.jpg GR 12 December 200731 December 2015 Justice and PoliceFinance BDP/PBD 2012First elected for the SVP/UDC, switched in 2008.F14
111 Ueli Maurer Ueli Maurer2018.jpg ZH 10 December 200831 December 2022 Defence, Civil Protection and SportFinance SVP/UDC 2013
2019
B14
112 Didier Burkhalter Didier Burkhalter 2011.jpg NE 16 September 200931 October 2017 Home AffairsForeign Affairs FDP/PLR 2014D15
113 Simonetta Sommaruga Simonetta Sommaruga 2011.jpg BE 22 September 201031 December 2022 Justice and PoliceEnvironment, Transport, Energy and Communications SPS/PSS 2015
2020
C18
114 Johann Schneider-Ammann Johann Schneider-Ammann 2011.jpg BE 22 September 201031 December 2018 Economic Affairs FDP/PLR 2016G17
115 Alain Berset Alain Berset 2016.jpg FR 14 December 201131 December 2023 Home Affairs SPS/PSS 2018
2023
A19
116 Guy Parmelin Guy Parmelin 2016.jpg VD 9 December 2015Incumbent Defence, Civil Protection and SportEconomic Affairs, Education and Research SVP/UDC 2021F15
117 Ignazio Cassis Ignazio Cassis (2021).jpg TI 20 September 2017Incumbent Foreign Affairs FDP/PLR 2022D16
118 Viola Amherd Viola Amherd Original (2018) (cropped).jpg VS 5 December 2018Incumbent Defence, Civil Protection and Sport CVP/PDC 2024The CVP/PDC merged into The Centre in 2021.E19
119 Karin Keller-Sutter Karin Keller-Sutter (2020, cropped).jpg SG 5 December 2018Incumbent Justice and PoliceFinance FDP/PLR G18
120 Albert Rösti Albert Rosti (2023).jpg BE 7 December 2022Incumbent Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications SVP/UDC B15
121 Élisabeth Baume-Schneider Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (2023).jpg JU 7 December 2022Incumbent Justice and PoliceHome Affairs SPS/PSS C19
122 Beat Jans Beat Jans 2019.jpg BS 13 December 2023Incumbent Justice and Police SPS/PSS A20

Legend:
     Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD) after 1894; previously a more or less coherent group of Liberals, Radicals and Democrats. [14] In January 2009, it merged with the Liberal Party (LPS/PLS) and became FDP.The Liberals.
     Christian Democratic People's Party (CVP/PDC)
     Liberal Party (LPS/PLS) ; since January 2009, the party has merged with the Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD) in order to form FDP.The Liberals.
     Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC) after 1971; previously the Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents (BGB/PAI) and associated minor parties.
     Social Democratic Party (SPS/PSS)
     Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD)

The Federal Councillors currently serving are indicated with bold type.

Members who declined their election

Five people have declined their election to the Federal Council by the Federal Assembly. Their number here is that of the Federal Councillor in the list above who was later elected in their place.

No.Name Canton ElectionPartyNotes
(10) Johann Jakob Stehlin BS 11 July 1855 FDP/PRD
(23) Louis Ruchonnet VD 10 December 1875 FDP/PRD Later elected as the 26th Councillor.
(23) Charles Estoppey VD 18 December 1875 FDP/PRD
(26) Karl Hoffmann SG 22 February 1881 FDP/PRD
(100) Francis Matthey NE 3 March 1993 SPS/PSS

Notes and references

  1. Swiss Federal Constitution / Bundesverfassung (BV) / Constitution fédérale (Cst.) / Costituzione federale (Cost.) of 1999-02-07, SR/RS 101 (E·D·F·I), art. 177 (E·D·F·I).
  2. This is the prevailing reading of the relevant constitutional provision: Swiss Federal Constitution / Bundesverfassung (BV) / Constitution fédérale (Cst.) / Costituzione federale (Cost.) of 1999-02-07, SR/RS 101 (E·D·F·I), art. 175 (E·D·F·I).
  3. Federal Council in German , French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland .
  4. For the abbreviations, see Data codes for Switzerland: Cantons. Up until 1987, the Federal Chancellery recorded the Councillors' legal place of origin. From 1987 on, the canton in which the Councillors live has been recorded, or, for councillors who were members of the Federal Assembly, the canton whose population they represented.
  5. The names of the federal departments have changed over the years. Generic names have been used as much as possible.
  6. The sequence number indicates to which of the seven seats (denoted by the letters A to G) the Councillor was elected.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 As President of the Confederation. The department used to be held by Councillors during the annually changing office of President of the Confederation.
  8. Ulrich Ochsenbein in German , French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland .
  9. Philippe Chenaux:Jean-Jacques Challet (-Venel) in German , French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland ,2003-09-16.
  10. Fridolin Anderwert in German , French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland .
  11. Franz Xaver Bischof:Ruth Metzler (-Arnold) in German , French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland ,2007-11-27.
  12. "Schmid announces resignation". Swissinfo. 12 November 2008. Archived from the original on 1 June 2021. Retrieved 12 November 2008.
  13. "Blocher ousted by Swiss parliament". Swissinfo. 12 December 2007. Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 13 February 2008.
  14. Beginnings of the Free Democratic Party in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland .

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