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Ruth Dreifuss (born January 9, 1940 in St. Gallen) is a Swiss politician and former member of the Swiss Federal Council (1993-2002 representing the Republic and Canton of Geneva).

She was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on March 10, 1993 (as the second woman ever and the only Jew so far). She is affiliated to the Social Democratic Party.

Contents 1 Policital activities 2 Election to the Federal Council 3 Political actions undertaken 4 Bibliography 5 External links

• She has a Master of Economics of the University of Geneva.
• She was a journalist at Coopération from 1961 to 1964.
• Assistant at the University of Geneva dfrom 1970 to 1972.
• Scientifical-expert at the Federal Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation between 1972 and 1981.
• She is the Secretary of the Swiss Trade Union until 1993.
• She is a social-democratic member of the City of Berne's Legislative Assembly from 1989 to 1992. She misses out the election to the National Council of Switzerland in 1991.

• On March 3, 1993, Christiane Brunner is the Social Democratic Party's official candidate.
• The right-wing parties decide to back-up another member of the Social Democratic Party, Francis Matthey, a member of the national parliament and a Minister of the Republic of Neuchâtel at that time. He must resign as the party doesn't support his election.
• After an unexpected decision, a new election is organised on March 10, 1993. The social Democratic Party presents Ruth Dreifuss and Christiane Brunner as the two official candidates. It is the first time that two women are on the official "ticket" for election. Under popular and feminist pressions among the country to elect Christiane Brunner, Ruth Dreifuss is elected on the 3rd round with 144 votes.

• She has held the Federal Department of Home Affairs until her resignation on December 31, 2002.
• She was the first woman ever to be elected President of the Confederation in 1999.

• She did win important referendums over:
  • a revision of Health Insurance Bill,
  • the 10th revision of the Social Security system,
  • a drug-politic based on prevention, therapy, help and repression,
  • a new law about Film industry and its development.

• However she worked on a Maternity Insurance, she had to ask the people to reject her own text, as she had to respect collegiality. The Federal Council, in its majority, was against it.

• Dreifuss ist unser Name (Dreifuss is our name), by Isabella Maria Fischli, Ed. Pendo, 2002, ISBN 3-85842-487-0.

• Legacy® interview.. Personal history interview

Preceded by René Felber

Member of the Swiss Federal Council 1993–2002

Succeeded by Micheline Calmy-Rey