Background
Kopp, Elisabeth was born on December 16, 1936 in Zurich.
Kopp, Elisabeth was born on December 16, 1936 in Zurich.
Degree in Law, Zurich University, 1960.
In 1969 she was elected to the district council (Gemeinderat) of Zumikon, and from 1972 she served on the education council (Erziehungsrat) of the canton of Zürich. She was president of Zumikon from 1974 until her election as a federal councillor in 1984. In 1984, Rudolf Friedrich resigned from his office for health reasons.
The Free Democratic Party then nominated Elisabeth Kopp and Bruno Hunziker as Friedrich"s successor.
On 2 October 1984 she was elected to the Federal Council as the first woman ever in that office. She got elected with the first ballot, receiving 124 votes of 244.
During her time in office she held the Federal Department of Justice and Police and was Vice-President of the Confederation shortly in 1989. He was vice president of Shakarchi Trading AG, among others
In September 1988, Jacques-André Kaeslin made a note about the connection of Shakarchi Trading AG with international crime.
Keaslin delivered the note to Renate Schwob, an employee of the Federal Department of Justice and Police, under circumstances which are not entirely clear. In October Katharina Schoop, a personal assistant of Elisabeth Kopp, was allowed to see the note. On 9 December 1988 the Swiss newspaper Le Matin wrote about that phone call.
Elisabeth Kopp then confessed her involvement, which led to the Swiss media demanding her resignation.
On 12 December 1988 Kopp announced that she would resign at the end of February 1989, insisting that she was without guilt in the matter. Pressure was raised again, and Kopp finally announced her immediate resignation on 12 January 1989.
Andres Brütsch: Elisabeth Kopp – Eine Winterreise (A Winters Journey – Switzerlands first female Minister), documentary, 85 minister, Topic, January 2007.
As a member of the Free Democratic Party she served in the National Council of Switzerland from 1979 to 1984. Her husband Hans West. Kopp was member of many company boards.
Married Hans W. Kopp.