Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
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Official portrait, 2011
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| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2012 – 31 December 2012 |
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| Vice President | Ueli Maurer |
| Preceded by | Micheline Calmy-Rey |
| Succeeded by | Ueli Maurer |
| Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2011 – 31 December 2011 |
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| President | Micheline Calmy-Rey |
| Preceded by | Micheline Calmy-Rey |
| Succeeded by | Ueli Maurer |
| Head of the Department of Finance | |
| In office 1 November 2010 – 31 December 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Hans-Rudolf Merz |
| Succeeded by | Ueli Maurer |
| Head of the Department of Justice and Police | |
| In office 1 January 2008 – 31 October 2010 |
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| Preceded by | Christoph Blocher |
| Succeeded by | Simonetta Sommaruga |
| Member of the Swiss Federal Council | |
| In office 1 January 2008 – 31 December 2015 |
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| Preceded by | Christoph Blocher |
| Succeeded by | Guy Parmelin |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 16 March 1956 Felsberg, Switzerland |
| Political party | Swiss People's Party (before 2008) Conservative Democratic Party (2008–2021) The Centre (2021–present) |
| Spouse | Christoph Widmer |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | University of Zürich |
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf (born March 16, 1956) is a Swiss politician and lawyer. She was a member of the Swiss Federal Council from 2008 to 2015. The Federal Council is like the government of Switzerland.
She was first part of the Swiss People's Party (SVP/UDC). Later, she joined a new group called the Conservative Democratic Party (BDP/PBD). This party later joined with The Centre in 2021. Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf led the Federal Department of Justice and Police from 2008 to 2010. After that, she became the head of the Federal Department of Finance. In 2012, she was chosen to be the President of the Swiss Confederation, which is a very important role in Switzerland.
Contents
Eveline's Early Life and Career
Family and Education
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is married and has three children. Her father, Leon Schlumpf, was also a Federal Councillor. This means she is the second person in Switzerland's history whose father also held this high office. She is also one of the few women to have been elected to the Swiss Federal Council.
Eveline studied law at the University of Zürich. She earned her law degree in 1981 and a higher law degree in 1990. She worked as a lawyer for many years, from 1987 to 1998.
Starting in Politics
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf began her political journey in 1985. She was elected to the district court of Trin. She even served as the president of this court from 1991 to 1997.
From 1994 to 1998, she was a member of the Grand Council of Grisons. This is a regional parliament. In 1998, she made history by becoming the first woman elected to the cantonal government in Grisons. She was the president of this government in 2001 and again in 2005.
Becoming a Federal Councillor
Election to the Federal Council
In 2007, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf was suggested as a candidate for the Federal Council. This was during the 2007 Swiss Federal Council election. She was elected as the 110th Federal Councillor on December 12, 2007. She accepted this important role the next day. She took over the job of leading the Federal Department of Justice and Police.
Forming a New Political Party
After her election, some leaders of her original party, the Swiss People's Party, were not happy. They felt she should not have accepted the election without their full support. Because she accepted the role, her party asked her to leave the Federal Council and the party. When she refused, her local party branch in Grisons was removed from the national party.
In response, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf and others from the Grisons branch formed a new political party. They called it the Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland. This was a big moment in Swiss politics.
Leading the Country
After some changes in the Federal Council in 2010, Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf took on a new role. She became the head of the Federal Department of Finance. This meant she was in charge of Switzerland's money matters.
In 2011, she was elected as the Vice President of Switzerland. Then, on December 14, 2011, she was elected President of the Swiss Confederation for the year 2012. She was the fourth woman to hold this top position in Switzerland. She was also the third woman in a row to be president.
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf decided not to run for re-election to the Federal Council in 2015. She was replaced by Guy Parmelin.
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2011
See also
In Spanish: Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf para niños
