Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf
Head of the FDJP from 1 January 2008 to 31 October 2010
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf was born on March 16, 1956, in Felsberg, Grisons, where she and her two sisters spent their childhood. She is married and the mother of three.
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf received a degree in law from the University of Zürich in 1981. She returned to her native canton of Grisons, where she was admitted to the bar, practicing as a lawyer and notary public. She gained a J.D. from the University of Zürich in 1990.
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf worked as a lawyer and notary public from 1987 to 1998. She was elected to the district court of Trin in 1985, presiding form 1991 to 1997. She was a member of the cantonal legislative of Grisons from 1994 to 1998, and became elected to the cantonal government on March 15, 1998. She headed the cantonal Department of Finance from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2007, and acted as president of the cantonal council in 2001 and 2005.
On December 12, 2007, the United Federal Assembly elected Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf federal councilor. She assumed office on January 1, 2008.
Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf sat in numerous administrative commissions. From September 2001, she presided the Cantonal Finance Directors’ Conference. She was also a member of the executive committee of the Conference of Cantonal Governments, and from May 2004 she sat in the bank council of the Swiss National Bank.
Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf is a member of the BDP Switzerland.
Since November 1, 2010, Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumf is head of the Federal Department of Finance.
Particulars
- Born on March 16, 1956
- Raised with her two sisters in Felsberg
- Married; three children
Education
- Grade school in Felsberg
- Secondary education (Gymnasium Type B) at the Bündner Kantonsschule in Chur
- 1976 School-leaving exam and university entrance qualification (Matura)
- Law studies at the University of Zurich
- 1981 law degree
- 1983 Grisons law-practicing certificate
- 1986 Grisons notary-practicing certificate
- 1990 J.D. from the University of Zurich
Professional profile
- 1981 - 1983 Law internship with a law office in Chur
- 1981 - 1987 Registrar with the cantonal court
- 1987 - 1998 Law and notary public office (self-employed)
- 1985 Elected to the Trin District Court
- 1991 - 1997 President of the Trin District Court
Professional and political career
- 1989 - 1998 Vice president of the Grisons chapter of the Swiss People’s Party
- 1994 - 1998 Member of the cantonal parliament and of numerous commission
- 1998 Elected to the cantonal government
- From January 1, 1999 Head of the Grisons Finance and Military Department
- From 1999 Head of the Administrative Commission of the Cantonal Pension Fund
- 1999 - 2006 Head of the Cantonal Administrative Commission Social Insurance Office
- November 1999 - October 2001 Head of the Finance Directors’ Conference East Chapter
- 2000 - 2007 Member of the Committee of the Conference of Cantonal Finance Directors
(heading the Conference from 2001) - 2001 - 2007 Member of the Executive Committee of the Conference of the Cantonal Governments of Switzerland (CCG)
- May 2004 - 2007 Member of the bank council of the Swiss National Bank,
acting as vice president of the bank council from May 2007 - 2001 and 2005 President of the cantonal council
- December 12, 2007 Elected federal councilor
- January 1, 2008 to October 31, 2010 Head of the Federal Department of Justice and Police
- November 1, 2010 Head of the Federal Department of Finance
- a member of the BDP Switzerland (Conservative Democratic Party of Switzerland) since 1.11.2008
29 November 2009
Federal Council press conference on the popular vote of 29 November 2009
Statement by Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, 29 November 2009, Federal Palace Media Centre. The spoken word is imperative.
22 June 2009
Swiss – US relations: The Way Forward
Lecture by Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf, Guest Speaker at the General Meeting of the Swiss-American Chamber of Commerce in Rüschlikon on 22 June 2009. The spoken word is imperative.
8 February 2009
Continuation and extension of the free movement of persons
Presentation of Federal Councillor Widmer-Schlumpf, Media Centre House of Parliament, 8 February 2008. The spoken word is imperative.
1 September 2008
A new legal costume for intermediated securities
Speech given in Geneva on 1st September 2008 by Federal Councillor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf at the opening of the Diplomatic Conference on the adoption of a UNIDROIT Convention on intermediated securities. Check against delivery.
26 June 2008
Switzerland in the fight against counterfeiting and piracy
In her speech given at the press conference of the IPP, Federal Councilor Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf illustrated the problem of counterfeits and pirated copies. In a few examples, she showed, how extensive this problem has become. She closed with an appeal to a constructive collaboration of all parties concerned. The spoken word is valid.