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Sabine Geissbühler-Strupler (left) is attempting her political comeback and wants to join the National Council for the SVP.
For some families, politics is just part of their DNA. Children often follow in their parents’ footsteps. But the opposite could now happen in Bern.
Former Councilor Sabine Geissbühler-Strupler (72) was nominated for the National Council by the Bernese SVP. Her daughter, SVP national councilor Andrea Geissbühler (46), currently represents the canton of Bern in the large chamber.
Mother inherits daughter
But she will not stand again in the next elections due to a term limit. Thus, the mother could inherit her own daughter when she makes a political comeback. A special case in Switzerland.
It is not uncommon for political offices to remain in the family. But mostly the children follow the parents. For example, Christoph Blocher’s (82) daughter Magdalena Martullo (53) moved into the National Council for the SVP twelve years after the end of his political career.
inheritance not uncommon
The Aargau SVP National Councilor Benjamin Giezendanner (40) also succeeded his father Ulrich Giezendanner (69). And like his father before him, he now has his eye on the seat of the Council of States. In the case of Green National Councilor Kilian Baumann (42), both parents were active on the national political stage – the mother, Stephanie Baumann (71), for the SP, the father Ruedi Baumann (75) and the son for the Greens.
The Geissbühlers from the canton of Bern would not be the only political dynasty in parliament. FDP National Councilor Christian Wasserfallen (41) continued the family tradition and followed his father FDP National Councilor Kurt Wasserfallen (1947-2006) into the Federal Palace.
According to the “Berner Zeitung”, Geissbühler-Strupler was one of the most conspicuous figures during her time on the Great Council. This is probably one of the reasons why her nomination as a candidate for the National Council was not without controversy. With 176 votes, she got around 60 votes fewer than the other nominees. (tom)