Published on 12 December 2025
Christoph Blocher
Head of the FDJP from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2007
Christoph Blocher was born on Oct. 11, 1940 in Schaffhausen and grew up in the town of Laufen am Rheinfall. After studying agriculture, he attended university in Zurich, Montpellier and Paris and received a Masters in Law in 1969. In 1971 he received a doctorate degree. In 1969, Christoph Blocher joined the legal department of Ems-Chemie AG (formerly Emser Werke AG). After acquiring the majority of its shares, in 1984 he became president and representative to the board of Ems-Chemie Holding AG.
Christoph Blocher was already politically active while still a student. At the University of Zurich, he was one of the founders of the populist student group “Studentenring,” was head of the students' representive of the legal department and a member of the Greater Students’ Council. After completing his studies, he was a member of the municipal government of the community of Meilen, as well as a representative to the council of the Canton of Zurich. He was also president of the Swiss People’s Party of the Canton of Zurich and AUNS (Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland). From 1979 to 2003 he served as a member of the lower house of the Swiss parliament.
On Dec. 10, 2003, he was elected as a representative of the Swiss People’s Party in the Swiss Federal Councill. From January 1, 2004 to December 31, 2007, he has headed the Federal Department of Justice and Police.26 March 2007
"The Swiss Economy - the Cinderella of Swiss Politics?"
In his speech to the Association of Statistics and Economy at Basel University, Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher took the view that the economy is best served if the government does not interfere. He adduced Swiss, the successor airline to Swissair, as a striking example to advance his thesis that nothing good can come from it if the government intervenes with the economy. Both the spoken and the written word are valid. The speaker reserves the right to deviate - even considerably - from the manuscript!
18 March 2007
Going from strength to strength — Russian-Swiss Relations: A Tale of Success
In his opening speech at the Russian Economic and Financial Forum, Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher acknowledged the increasing trade relations between Russia and Switzerland, stressing the need to streamline these relations in the future. Both the spoken and the written word are equally valid. The speaker reserves the right to deviate − even considerably − from the manuscript!
30 January 2007
Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy: Shared Challenges - Common Goals
On the occasion of the Third Global Congress on Combating Counterfeiting and Piracy, Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher emphasised the importance of international cooperation in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy. These are global problems that affect every economic sector, he said.
16 January 2007
Counterfeiting and Piracy - A major problem for the Swiss Economy
Speaking at the media conference on the presentation of the Stop Piracy campaign by the Swiss Anti-Counterfeiting and Piracy Platform, Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher warned of the consequences and risks counterfeiting and piracy may entail. Swiss business enterprises loose as much as SFr. 2 billion each year and fake medicines may jeopardize the consumer’s health, Mr. Blocher said.
13 December 2006
Private Law and Direct Democracy
In his speech at the evening reception of the "Study Group on a European Civil Code SGECC" Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher pointed out the special features of direct democracy and its consequences for Swiss private law. With regard to the project "European Civil Code", Mr. Blocher considered that standard law can pose the risk of making the same mistakes.
4 October 2006
Turkey and the adoption of the Swiss Civil Code
Adress speech by Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher given on the occasion of the opening of the symposium at Ankara University on October 4, 2006, commemorating the 80th anniversary of the entry into force of the Turkish Civil Code. The written and spoken versions of the speech are equally authentic.
19 August 2006
Swiss abroad – Foreign nationals in Switzerland
The spoken and the written words are final; the speaker reserves the right to deviate considerably from the written text!
10 July 2006
When Sehnsucht (desire) leads you up the garden path
The spoken and the written words are final; the speaker reserves the right to deviate considerably from the written text!
18 May 2006
Neosocialism versus Neoliberalism?
On the occasion of the 36th St. Gallen Symposium, Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher commemorated the liberal thinker Wilhelm Röpke and referred to the relevance of his teachings for solving the economic problems of today such as the debate on managers’ salaries. Mr. Blocher emphasised that the remuneration employees should reflect their performance and market value, and that it is the responsibility of the owners of a company to determine the level of salary. The Federal Councillor, however, sees difficulties with regard to large enterprises listed on the stock market and, therefore, supports state regulation of corporate governance and the current reform of Swiss company law in order to offer better ownership protection. The speaker reserves the right to deviate – even considerably - from the manuscript!
28 October 2005
Financial centers in a globalized free-market economy - The opportunities and limits to regulation
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