Anna Elisabeth Kopp was a Swiss politician of the Free Democratic Party best known for being the first woman to serve in the Federal Council, a Switzerland’s governing body. Kopp was a skilled figure skater in her youth, she studied law at Zurich University and graduated with honors. Before she was elected to serve in the Federal council, she had been Mayor of Zumikon for a decade and had served two terms in Parliament before a retirement opened up a seat on the seven-member Federal Council, whi... moreAnna Elisabeth Kopp was a Swiss politician of the Free Democratic Party best known for being the first woman to serve in the Federal Council, a Switzerland’s governing body. Kopp was a skilled figure skater in her youth, she studied law at Zurich University and graduated with honors. Before she was elected to serve in the Federal council, she had been Mayor of Zumikon for a decade and had served two terms in Parliament before a retirement opened up a seat on the seven-member Federal Council, which runs the main government department. Through out her carrier she was known for her work on environmental issues as well as for advancing women’s causes. Her election was an important moment in the push for women’s equality in Switzerland, a country that had lagged behind most of Europe in that area. She would have been the first female president as the members took turns serving a one-year term as the country’s president. But when it was her turn a scandal erupted that involved her tipping her husband to disassociate himself with Trans K-B because the company was under investigation. This led to her turning in her resignation. After her political career, Mrs. Kopp did postgraduate studies in European law and human rights law and worked at her husband’s law firm.
