| Pascal Couchepin | |
|---|---|
| Member of the Swiss Federal Council | |
| In office 1 January 1998 – 1 November 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Jean-Pascal Delamuraz |
| Succeeded by | Didier Burkhalter |
| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2008 – 31 December 2008 |
|
| Vice President | Hans-Rudolf Merz |
| Preceded by | Micheline Calmy-Rey |
| Succeeded by | Hans-Rudolf Merz |
| In office 1 January 2003 – 31 December 2003 |
|
| Vice President | Ruth Metzler-Arnold |
| Preceded by | Kaspar Villiger |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Deiss |
| Head of the Federal Department of Home Affairs | |
| In office 1 January 2003 – 1 November 2009 |
|
| Preceded by | Ruth Dreifuss |
| Succeeded by | Didier Burkhalter |
| Head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs | |
| In office 1 January 1998 – 31 December 2002 |
|
| Preceded by | Jean-Pascal Delamuraz |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Deiss |
| Vice President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 2007 – 31 December 2007 |
|
| President | Micheline Calmy-Rey |
| Preceded by | Micheline Calmy-Rey |
| Succeeded by | Hans-Rudolf Merz |
| In office 1 January 2002 – 31 December 2002 |
|
| President | Kaspar Villiger |
| Preceded by | Kaspar Villiger |
| Succeeded by | Ruth Metzler |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 5 April 1942 Martigny, Switzerland |
| Political party | Free Democratic Party |
| Spouse(s) | Brigitte Rendu |
| Alma mater | University of Lausanne |
Pascal Couchepin (born April 5, 1942 in Martigny, Valais) is a Swiss politician, former member of the Swiss Federal Council (1998–2009) and President of the Confederation in 2003 and 2008. He headed the Federal Department of Home Affairs (Swiss interior ministry) from 2003 to 2009.
He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on March 11, 1998 as a member of the Free Democratic Party (FDP/PRD) and the canton of Valais. In 1998 he took over the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, in which position he fought against the Swiss government contributing any money to the $1.25 billion settlement between Swiss banks and Holocaust survivors. He was quoted as saying that "there is no reason for the Swiss Government to pay anything", as a government commission had shown "we did what was possible in the hard times of the war.".[1] In 2003 he moved to the Federal Department of Home Affairs.
He was the President of the Confederation in 2003. On 13 December 2006, he was elected vice-president of the Federal Council for 2007, and, on 12 December 2007 was elected President of the Confederation in 2008.
Previously, he had been Deputy Mayor (1976) and Mayor of Martigny (since 1984) and, from 1979 to 1998, member of the National Council.
Couchepin holds a DEA's degree in Law from the University of Lausanne, is father of three (2 daughters and a son) and has two grandchildren.
During the Pope Benedict XVI Islam controversy, he stated the Pope's speech was "intelligent and necessary."[2]
On 12 June 2009, Couchepin announced his resignation from the Federal Council effective 31 October 2009.[3] This led to an election to fill his vacated seat.
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jean-Pascal Delamuraz |
Member of the Swiss Federal Council 1998–2009 |
Succeeded by Didier Burkhalter |
| Preceded by Kaspar Villiger |
President of Switzerland 2003 |
Succeeded by Joseph Deiss |
| Preceded by Micheline Calmy-Rey |
President of Switzerland 2008 |
Succeeded by Hans-Rudolf Merz |
|
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