Elisabeth Kopp

Who is Elisabeth Kopp?

Elisabeth Kopp is a Swiss politician and the first woman elected to the Swiss Federal Council.

Elisabeth Kopp grew up in Bern. After finishing her law studies in 1960 she married Hans W. Kopp. In 1969 she was elected to the district council of Zumikon, and from 1972 she served on the education council of the canton of Zürich. She was president of Zumikon from 1974 until her election as a federal councillor in 1984. As a member of the Free Democratic Party she served in the National Council of Switzerland from 1979 to 1984.

In 1984, Rudolf Friedrich resigned from his office for health reasons. The Free Democratic Party then nominated Elisabeth Kopp and Bruno Hunziker as Friedrich's successor. After this nomination the Swiss media started a campaign against Elisabeth Kopp, focusing mainly on her husband Hans W. Kopp. But shortly before the Federal Council held the election, the tides turned with some journalists insisting that Elisabeth Kopp should not be held liable for the faults of her husband.

On October 2, 1984, she was elected to the Federal Council as the first woman ever in that office. She got elected with the first ballot, receiving 124 votes of 244. During her time in office she held the Federal Department of Justice and Police and was Vice-President of the Confederation shortly in 1989.