Misplaced Pages

Hans Schaffner (16 December 1908, in Interlaken – 26 November 2004 in Bern) was a Swiss politician and member of the Swiss Federal Council (1961–1970).

He grew up as the son of Robert Schaffner, head judge in Interlaken, and Margaretha (born Abplanalp), a teacher. After his legal studies at the University of Bern he was made a court scribe at the supreme court of the Canton of Bern in 1934, and three years later, he married his wife Ruth Rudolf, a lawyer herself.

He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 15 June 1961 and handed over office on 31 January 1970. He is affiliated to the Free Democratic Party. After receiving a degree in law, he entered the federal civil service as the head of the Division in charge of wartime economy (1941). In 1954, he became Director of the Trade Division of the Economic Affairs Department. With the president of the Board of Trade Reginald Maudling, he was during a meeting of non EEC countries in the Alabama Room in Geneva, one of the initiators of the European Free-Trade Association (EFTA) in December 1958.

During his time in office he headed up the Department of Economic Affairs and was President of the Confederation in 1966. During that year, Switzerland became a member of GATT. He prepared measures in favour of agriculture, a new law about labour relations and measures against inflation. After retirement, he held positions in several Boards of directors (Sandoz, Rieter, Câbleries de Cossonay). He fought for liberal and free-trade values.

References

1. The Statesman's Year-Book 1966-67: The One-Volume ENCYCLOPAEDIA of all nations, p. 1464, at Google Books
2. Stamm, Konrad (2020-02-14). "Hans Schaffner". Historical Dictionary of Switzerland. Retrieved 2023-07-18.

External links

• Hans Schaffner in the Dodis database of the Diplomatic Documents of Switzerland
• Profile of Hans Schaffner with election results on the website of the Swiss Federal Council.
• Hans Schaffner in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• Eulogy by Jean-Philippe Maitre, President of the National Council (in French)

v t e President of the Swiss Confederation (list)
1848–1874	Furrer Druey Munzinger Furrer Naeff Frey-Herosé Furrer Stämpfli Fornerod Furrer Stämpfli Frey-Herosé Knüsel Stämpfli Fornerod Dubs Schenk Knüsel Fornerod Dubs Welti Dubs Schenk Welti Cérésole Schenk
1875–1899	Scherer Welti Heer Schenk Hammer Welti Droz Bavier Ruchonnet Welti Schenk Deucher Droz Hertenstein Hammer Ruchonnet Welti Hauser Schenk Frey Zemp Lachenal Deucher Ruffy Müller
1900–1924	Hauser Brenner Zemp Deucher Comtesse Ruchet Forrer Müller Brenner Deucher Comtesse Ruchet Forrer Müller Hoffmann Motta Decoppet Schulthess Calonder Ador Motta Schulthess Haab Scheurer Chuard
1925–1949	Musy Häberlin Motta Schulthess Haab Musy Häberlin Motta Schulthess Pilet-Golaz Minger Meyer Motta Baumann Etter Pilet-Golaz Wetter Etter E. Celio Stampfli von Steiger Kobelt Etter E. Celio Nobs
1950–1974	Petitpierre Steiger Kobelt Etter Rubattel Petitpierre Feldmann Streuli Holenstein Chaudet Petitpierre Wahlen Chaudet Spühler von Moos Tschudi Schaffner Bonvin Spühler von Moos Tschudi Gnägi N. Celio Bonvin Brugger
1975–1999	Graber Gnägi Furgler Ritschard Hürlimann Chevallaz Furgler Honegger Aubert Schlumpf Furgler Egli Aubert Stich Delamuraz Koller Cotti Felber Ogi Stich Villiger Delamuraz Koller Cotti Dreifuss
2000–present	Ogi Leuenberger Villiger Couchepin Deiss Schmid Leuenberger Calmy-Rey Couchepin Merz Leuthard Calmy-Rey Widmer-Schlumpf Maurer Burkhalter Sommaruga Schneider-Ammann Leuthard Berset Maurer Sommaruga Parmelin Cassis Berset Amherd

This article about a Swiss politician is a stub. You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it.

• v
• t
• e

• 1908 births
• 2004 deaths
• People from Interlaken
• Free Democratic Party of Switzerland politicians
• Members of the Federal Council (Switzerland)
• Aargau politicians
• University of Bern alumni
• Swiss politician stubs