Elisabeth Kopp (born 16 December 1936, in
Zürich
, neighboring_municipalities = Adliswil, Dübendorf, Fällanden, Kilchberg, Maur, Oberengstringen, Opfikon, Regensdorf, Rümlang, Schlieren, Stallikon, Uitikon, Urdorf, Wallisellen, Zollikon
, twintowns = Kunming, San Francisco
Z ...
) is a
Swiss
Swiss may refer to:
* the adjectival form of Switzerland
*Swiss people
Places
* Swiss, Missouri
*Swiss, North Carolina
* Swiss, West Virginia
*Swiss, Wisconsin
Other uses
* Swiss-system tournament, in various games and sports
* Swiss Internation ...
politician and the first woman elected to the
Swiss Federal Council (1984–1989).
Biography
Elisabeth Kopp grew up in
Bern
german: Berner(in)french: Bernois(e) it, bernese
, neighboring_municipalities = Bremgarten bei Bern, Frauenkappelen, Ittigen, Kirchlindach, Köniz, Mühleberg, Muri bei Bern, Neuenegg, Ostermundigen, Wohlen bei Bern, Zollikofen
, website ...
. After finishing her law studies in 1960, she married
Hans W. Kopp (1931–2009). In 1969, she was elected to the district council (''Gemeinderat'') of
Zumikon and, from 1972, she served on the education council (''Erziehungsrat'') of the
canton of Zürich
The canton of Zürich (german: Kanton Zürich ; rm, Chantun Turitg; french: Canton de Zurich; it, Canton Zurigo) is a Swiss canton in the northeastern part of the country. With a population of (as of ), it is the most populous canton in the ...
. 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
The National Council (german: Nationalrat; french: Conseil national; it, Consiglio nazionale; rm, Cussegl naziunal) is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland, the upper house being the Council of States. With 200 seats, th ...
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 2 October 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.
Her husband Hans W. Kopp was member of many company boards. He was vice president of
Shakarchi Trading AG, among others. In September 1988,
Jacques-André Kaeslin made a note about the connection of Shakarchi Trading AG with
international crime. Keaslin delivered the note to
Renate Schwob, an employee of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, under circumstances which are not entirely clear. In October,
Katharina Schoop, a personal assistant of Elisabeth Kopp, was allowed to see the note. The information was then relayed to Kopp, who phoned her husband, telling him to retire from his work at Shakarchi Trading AG. Shakarchi Trading AG was later proven to be innocent of any criminal involvement.
On 9 December 1988, the Swiss newspaper ''
Le Matin'' wrote about that phone call. Elisabeth Kopp then confessed her involvement, which led to the Swiss media demanding her resignation. On 12 December 1988, Kopp announced that she would resign at the end of February 1989, insisting that she was without guilt in the matter. Pressure was raised again and Kopp finally announced her immediate resignation on 12 January 1989.
Literature
*
* Elisabeth Kopp (1991). ''Briefe (Letters)''. Benteli Verlag.
Film
* : '
[ ] (A Winters Journey – Switzerlands first female Minister)'', documentary, 85 min.,
Topic Film, January 2007
References
External links
*
*
Der Fall Kopp
, -
, -
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kopp, Elisabeth
Members of the National Council (Switzerland)
Members of the Federal Council (Switzerland)
1936 births
Living people
Politicians from Zürich
Women members of the National Council (Switzerland)
Women members of the Federal Council (Switzerland)
20th-century Swiss politicians
20th-century Swiss women politicians
20th-century women rulers
Female justice ministers