François Couchepin facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
François Couchepin
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Couchepin in 1991
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| 13th Chancellor of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 July 1991 – 31 December 1999 |
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| Preceded by | Walter Buser |
| Succeeded by | Annemarie Huber-Hotz |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 January 1935 Martigny, Switzerland |
| Died | 23 February 2023 (aged 88) |
| Political party | Free Democratic Party |
| Alma mater | University of Lausanne |
François Couchepin (born January 19, 1935 – died February 23, 2023) was an important Swiss lawyer and politician. He held the role of Chancellor of Switzerland from 1991 to 1999. The Chancellor is like the chief of staff for the Swiss government, managing its daily work. François Couchepin was a member of the Free Democratic Party.
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Early Life and Career
François Couchepin was born in Martigny, Switzerland. His father was a judge, and his cousin, Pascal Couchepin, also became a very important Swiss politician.
François studied law at the University of Lausanne. In 1957, he earned his law degree. Two years later, he became a licensed lawyer and notary in the canton of Valais. From 1964 to 1980, he had his own law office in Martigny.
He also served in the Grand Council of Valais from 1965 to 1980. This was a local government role, similar to being a state representative. He was the leader of the liberal group there. He also worked with the Swiss Association for the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, which helps cities and regions work together across Europe.
Becoming Chancellor
In 1980, Couchepin started working for the Federal Chancellery of Switzerland. This is the main administrative office of the Swiss government. He led the team that handled French-language documents. The next year, he became Vice-Chancellor. In this role, he helped prepare government meetings and kept official records.
In 1991, François Couchepin was chosen to be the Chancellor of Switzerland. This is a very important job, as the Chancellor helps the government run smoothly. He was elected after several rounds of voting.
Key Achievements as Chancellor
As Chancellor, François Couchepin worked on several important projects.
Updating Voting Laws
He helped update the laws about how people vote and how citizens can propose new laws. These updates aimed to make sure that ideas proposed by citizens were voted on more quickly. This helped prevent delays in important decisions.
Government Organization
Couchepin also made changes to how the government was organized. For example, the office that protects people's data was moved under the Federal Chancellery. This helped make sure personal information was kept safe. Other offices were moved to different departments to make the government more efficient.
Technology and International Work
During his time, Couchepin oversaw a big project to bring computers and the internet into the federal government. This included creating databases and websites. This helped the government work more effectively in the digital age.
Switzerland also helped with peace efforts in the Balkans. As part of this, the Federal Chancellery, under Couchepin's leadership, helped organize elections in places like Mostar and Kosovo for people seeking safety in Switzerland.
Later Life
After he retired in 1999, François Couchepin continued to be involved in public life. He wrote a petition to the Swiss Parliament about new laws for people seeking asylum and foreigners. Many people signed this petition.
François Couchepin passed away on February 23, 2023, at the age of 88.
