Brigitte Häberli-Koller (born 23 August 1958) is a Swiss politician of the party The Centre (DM, CVP until 2021). She is a former member of the National Council and a current of the Council of States of which she served as its president from 2022 to 2023.
Brigitte Häberli-Koller | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Official portrait, 2022 | |
| President of the Council of States | |
| In office 28 November 2022 – 4 December 2023 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Hefti |
| Succeeded by | Eva Herzog |
| Member of the National Council | |
| In office 2003–2011 | |
| Member of the Council of States | |
| Assumed office 2011 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 23 August 1958 Wetzikon, Zürich, Switzerland |
| Political party | The Centre, former CVP |
| Children | 3 |
Early life and education
Brigitte Häberli was born in August 1958 in Wetzikon, Canton of Zürich[1] but has her place of origin in Münchenbuchsee in Canton of Bern.[1] After she completed her apprenticeship as a merchant, she worked for some time in Zurich.[2]
Political career
She joined The Centre in In 1996 she became a member of the Executive Council of Bichelsee-Balterswil,[3][1] the same year she was also elected into the Grand Council of Thurgau representing CVP.[3] She worked for both political offices until 2003.[1] In the Federal Elections of 2003, she was elected into the National Council by a margin of sixteen votes, representing the CVP for Thurgau.[4] In 2005, she was discussed as possible president of CVP, but then declined.[3] 2011 she was a member of the National Council.[3] In the Federal Elections of 2011 she was elected into the Council of States.[3] She was the first women to represent the Canton of Thurgau in the Council of States.[3] In November 2022 she was elected as the president of the Council of States.[5] Élisabeth Baume-Schneider of the Social Democratic Party (SP) and Lisa Mazzone of the Green Party (GP) will assume the first and second Vice-Presidencies, therefore making it the first Council of States presided by three women.[4][6]
Presidency of Council of States
In her inaugurating speech, Brigitte Häberli-Koller appealed to the political instrument of a direct democracy, which would allow the Swiss population to remain honest.[4]
Personal life
Brigitte Häberli-Koller is married and the mother of three children.[3] Her political career is celebrated in her municipality and after her election to the presidency of the Council of States she was granted an honorary citizenship of Bichelsee-Balterswil.[7] She lives in Bichelsee with her husband.[2]