Elisabeth Kopp
Encyclopedia
Elisabeth Kopp is a Swiss
politician and the first woman elected to the Swiss Federal Council
(1984-1989).
Elisabeth Kopp grew up in Bern. 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
. 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.
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 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 December 9 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 December 12, 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 January 12, 1989.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
politician and the first woman elected to the Swiss Federal Council
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
(1984-1989).
Zumikon
Zumikon is a municipality in the district of Meilen in the canton of Zürich in Switzerland. It is located in the Pfannenstiel region.-History:...
, and from 1972 she served on the education council (Erziehungsrat) of the canton of Zürich
Canton of Zürich
The Canton of Zurich has a population of . The canton is located in the northeast of Switzerland and the city of Zurich is its capital. The official language is German, but people speak the local Swiss German dialect called Züritüütsch...
. She was president of Zumikon from 1974 until her election as a federal councillor in 1984. As a member of the Free Democratic Party
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
she served in the National Council of Switzerland
National Council of Switzerland
The National Council of Switzerland is the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland. With 200 seats, it is the larger of the two houses....
from 1979 to 1984.
In 1984, Rudolf Friedrich
Rudolf Friedrich
Rudolf Friedrich is a Swiss politician, lawyer and member of the Swiss Federal Council .He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on December 8, 1982 and, for health reason, resigned his office on October 20, 1984...
resigned from his office for health reasons. The Free Democratic Party then nominated Elisabeth Kopp and Bruno Hunziker
Bruno Hunziker
Bruno Hunziker was a Swiss attorney, politician, and member of the Aargau canton and Swiss federal parliaments.-Early life:...
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
Swiss Federal Council
The Federal Council is the seven-member executive council which constitutes the federal government of Switzerland and serves as the Swiss collective head of state....
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 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 December 9 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 December 12, 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 January 12, 1989.
Film
- Andres Brütsch: Winterreise – Elisabeth Kopp (A Winters Journey – Switzerlands first female Minister), documentary, 85 min., Topic Film, January 2007
External links
- http://www.had.net/stuff/kopp.htm - Der Fall Kopp
- http://www.afz.ethz.ch/handbuch/nachl/nachlaesseKoppElisabeth.htm