Rudolf Gnägi (3 August 1917 – 20 April 1985) was a Swiss politician who was

President of the Swiss Confederation The president of the Swiss Confederation, also known as the president of the confederation, federal president or colloquially as the president of Switzerland, is as ''primus inter pares'' among the other members of the Federal Council (Switze ...

in 1971 and 1976 and a

member of the Swiss Federal Council The seven members of the Federal Council (Switzerland), Swiss Federal Council (; ; ; ) constitute the federal government of Switzerland and collectively serve as the country's head of state. Each of the seven Federal Councillors heads a departm ...

from 1966 to 1979.

Career

He was elected to the

Federal Council of Switzerland The Federal Council is the federal Cabinet (government), cabinet of the Switzerland, Swiss Confederation. Its seven members also serve as the collective head of state and Head of government, government of Switzerland. Since World War II, the F ...

on 8 December 1965 and handed over office on 31 December 1979. He was affiliated to the

Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents The Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents () or Farmers', Traders' and Citizens' Party (, BGB) was a Swiss political party founded in 1936. It grew out of a merger between various farmers’ parties at canton level which had been established ...

(BGB/PAI), which became the

Swiss People's Party The Swiss People's Party (, SVP; , PPS), also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre (, UDC; , UDC), is a national-conservative and right-wing populist political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Marcel Dettling, it is the largest party in ...

in 1972. During his office time he held the following departments: Federal Department of Transport, Communications and Energy (1966–1967),

Federal Military Department The Swiss Armed Forces (; ; ; ; ) are the military and security force of Switzerland, consisting of land and air service branches. Under the country's militia system, regular soldiers constitute a small part of the military and the rest are ...

(1968), Federal Department of Transport, Communications and Energy (1968), and

(1969–1979). He was

twice in 1971 and 1976. His name is popularly remembered as the nickname of a

Swiss Armed Forces The Swiss Armed Forces (; ; ; ; ) are the military and security force of Switzerland, consisting of land and air service branches. Under the country's militia system, regular soldiers constitute a small part of the military and the rest are ...

ordonnance item, an olive-green jumper officially named ''Trikothemd 75'', but commonly known as ''Gnägi''.

External links

* * * 1917 births 1985 deaths People from Biel/Bienne District Swiss Calvinist and Reformed Christians Party of Farmers, Traders and Independents politicians Swiss People's Party politicians Members of the Federal Council (Switzerland) Presidents of the Swiss Confederation Ministers of Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications of Switzerland Defence ministers of Switzerland Members of the National Council (Switzerland) University of Bern alumni {{Switzerland-politician-stub