Ruth Metzler
Ruth Metzler-Arnold (born May 23, 1964) is a Switzerland politician and former member of the Swiss Federal Council (1999-2003).
Political Career
She was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on March 11, 1999, as a member of the Christian Democratic People’s Party from the Canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. She was one of the youngest ever Federal Councillors and in 2003, she was the Vice-President of the Council. During her time in office she has headed the Federal Department of Justice and Police. She won 14 referendums during her time in office.
Non re-election
On December 10, 2003, she became the third member of the council not to be reelected in the history of the Swiss Federal State. In the 2003 elections, her party lost many voters and the Swiss People’s Party became the largest party of Switzerland. The Swiss People’s party then requested another seat in the Federal Council. In the elections for the Federal Council on December 10, the Federal Assembly did not reelect Ruth Metzler and elected Christoph Blocher instead. Ruth Metzler-Arnold kept her seat until the end of the year and Christoph Blocher succeeded her on January 1, 2004.
She published her account under the title “Grissini & Alpenbitter”, 2004.
Post-political Career
She taught politics in 2004 at the University of St. Gallen. Since 2005, she has been the Corporate General Counsel for the pharmaceutical company, Novartis, in Basel.