Swiss Passport

Who was the first woman on the Swiss Federal Council?

Wer war die erste Frau im Schweizer Bundesrat?

Correct answer: B

  1. A Ruth DreifussRuth Dreifuss
  2. B Elisabeth KoppElisabeth Kopp
  3. C Ruth MetzlerRuth Metzler
  4. D Micheline Calmy-ReyMicheline Calmy-Rey

Why

On 2 October 1984, Parliament elected Elisabeth Kopp (FDP, Zurich) as the first woman to the Federal Council.

Common mistakes

A: Ruth Dreifuss
In 1993, Ruth Dreifuss was the second woman Federal Councillor, and in 1999 the first woman President of the Confederation.
C: Ruth Metzler
Ruth Metzler was only elected in 1999.
D: Micheline Calmy-Rey
Micheline Calmy-Rey was only elected in 2002.

Topic

Women's suffrage and equal rights

In Switzerland, women were not allowed to vote and elect for a long time. Because only men were allowed to vote, the men had to decide on it. In 1959 they still said no. On 7 February 1971 they said yes, with 66 percent. Since then, Swiss women have had the right to vote and elect at federal level. Many other countries in Europe had it decades earlier.

Timeline of Swiss history
  1. 58 BCHelvetii and Romans
  2. 1291The Rütli and William Tell
  3. 1515Marignano
  4. 1523The Reformation
  5. 1798The French and Napoleon
  6. 1815Neutrality
  7. 1848Sonderbund War and the federal state
  8. 19th c.From agrarian state to industrial state
  9. 1918National general strike
  10. 1939–1945Second World War
  11. 1948Prosperity and AHV
  12. 1970Immigration and the Schwarzenbach initiative
  13. 1971Women's suffrage and equal rights
  14. 1979The youngest canton: Jura

History of Switzerland
Women's rights

Sources

Last checked: September 2026

Question 241 of the official question list of the Canton of Zurich (Gemeindeamt, May 2025). Translation and explanation: Swiss Passport.

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