Simonetta Sommaruga
Encyclopedia
Simonetta Sommaruga is a Swiss politician of the Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
. She is a member of the Swiss Federal Council
, the federal government of Switzerland, and head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (the Swiss justice minister
).
, Sommaruga grew up with two brothers and a sister in Sins
, Aargau
. She attended the gymnasium
at Immensee, Schwyz
and trained as a pianist
at Lucerne
, California and Rome. From 1988 to 1991, she attended English
and Romance studies
at the University of Fribourg
.
from 1981 to 1990. She served in the municipal government of Köniz
from 1998 to 2005. In 1999, she was elected to the National Council of Switzerland
and in 2003 to the upper chamber, the Council of States, representing the Canton of Bern.
On 11 August 2010, she announced her candidacy to succeed Moritz Leuenberger
in the 2010 Swiss Federal Council election
. She was elected on 22 September 2010.
.
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
. She is a member of 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....
, the federal government of Switzerland, and head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (the Swiss justice minister
Justice Minister
A justice ministry is a ministry or other government agency charged with justice. The ministry is often headed by a minister for justice or secretary of justice or secretary for justice; sometimes the head of a department of justice is entitled attorney general.Specific duties may relate to...
).
Early life
Born in ZugZug
Zug , is a German-speaking city in Switzerland. The name ‘Zug’ originates from fishing vocabulary; in the Middle Ages it referred to the right to ‘pull up’ fishing nets and hence to the right to fish.The city of Zug is located in the Canton of Zug and is its capital...
, Sommaruga grew up with two brothers and a sister in Sins
Sins, Switzerland
Sins is a municipality in the district of Muri in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland.-Geography:Sins has an area, , of . Of this area, or 72.1% is used for agricultural purposes, while or 17.4% is forested...
, Aargau
Aargau
Aargau is one of the more northerly cantons of Switzerland. It comprises the lower course of the river Aare, which is why the canton is called Aar-gau .-History:...
. She attended the gymnasium
Gymnasium (school)
A gymnasium is a type of school providing secondary education in some parts of Europe, comparable to English grammar schools or sixth form colleges and U.S. college preparatory high schools. The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, meaning a locality for both physical and intellectual...
at Immensee, Schwyz
Schwyz
The town of is the capital of the canton of Schwyz in Switzerland.The Federal Charter of 1291 or Bundesbrief, the charter that eventually led to the foundation of Switzerland, can be seen at the Bundesbriefmuseum.-History of the toponym:...
and trained as a pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
at Lucerne
Lucerne
Lucerne is a city in north-central Switzerland, in the German-speaking portion of that country. Lucerne is the capital of the Canton of Lucerne and the capital of the district of the same name. With a population of about 76,200 people, Lucerne is the most populous city in Central Switzerland, and...
, California and Rome. From 1988 to 1991, she attended English
English studies
English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language , English linguistics English studies is an academic discipline that includes the study of literatures written in the English language (including literatures from the U.K., U.S.,...
and Romance studies
Romance studies
Romance studies is an umbrella academic discipline that covers the study of the languages, literatures, and cultures of areas that speak a Romance language. Romance studies departments usually include the study of Spanish, French, Italian, and Portuguese...
at the University of Fribourg
University of Fribourg
The University of Fribourg is a university in the city of Fribourg, Switzerland.The roots of the University can be traced back to 1582, when the notable Jesuit Peter Canisius founded the Collège Saint-Michel in the City of Fribourg. In 1763, an Academy of law was founded by the state of Frobourg...
.
Professional career
Sommaruga held the directorship of the Swiss Consumer Protection Foundation (Stiftung für Konsumentenschutz) from 1993 to 1999, which earned her public recognition in the German-speaking part of Switzerland. She has held the presidency of that foundation since 1999, and that of the aid organization Swissaid since 2003.Political career
Sommaruga's political career began as a Social Democrat member of the Grand Council of BernGrand Council of Bern
The Grand Council is the parliament of the Swiss canton of Bern.It consists of 160 members elected by proportional representation for a four-year term of office...
from 1981 to 1990. She served in the municipal government of Köniz
Köniz
Köniz is a municipality in the Bern-Mittelland administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. With a population of 38,793 inhabitants , the municipality is one of the 15 most populous cities in Switzerland.- History :...
from 1998 to 2005. In 1999, she was elected to 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....
and in 2003 to the upper chamber, the Council of States, representing the Canton of Bern.
On 11 August 2010, she announced her candidacy to succeed Moritz Leuenberger
Moritz Leuenberger
Moritz Leuenberger is a Swiss politician, lawyer, was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1995 to 2010 and President of the Confederation in 2001 and in 2006....
in the 2010 Swiss Federal Council election
Swiss Federal Council election, 2010
Two by-elections to the Swiss Federal Council were held in Switzerland on 22 September 2010, after Federal Councillor Moritz Leuenberger announced he would leave the Federal Council as of December 31, 2010. as well as incumbent Federal Councillor Hans-Rudolf Merz announced his intention to retire...
. She was elected on 22 September 2010.
Personal life
Sommaruga is married to the writer Lukas Hartmann and lives in Spiegel near Bern. She is a distant relative of Cornelio SommarugaCornelio Sommaruga
Cornelio Sommaruga is a prominent Swiss humanitarian, lawyer and diplomat who is best known for being President of the International Committee of the Red Cross from 1987 to 1999. Today, he chairs the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining in Geneva...
.
Publications
- Für eine moderne Schweiz. Ein praktischer Reformplan, with Rudolf Strahm, Nagel & Kimche, Munich, 2005, ISBN 3312003563 , 10 May 2001