Roger Bonvin

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Federal Councilor Roger Bonvin in the National Council

Roger Bonvin (born September 12, 1907 in Icogne , † June 5, 1982 in Sion ; resident in Icogne, Lens , Chermignon and Nendaz ) was a Swiss politician ( CVP ) from the canton of Valais . As Federal Councilor (1962–1973) he was in charge of both the Finance and Customs Department (1962–1968) and the Transport and Energy Department (1968–1973) and served as Federal President in 1967 and 1973 .

Professional career

Roger Bonvin (far right) with his colleagues on the summer trip to the Federal Council in 1972

Bonvin attended the colleges in Sion and Einsiedeln and completed a degree in civil engineering at the ETH Zurich , which he graduated in 1932. He was involved as an engineer in the construction of the Grande Dixence dam from 1932–1934 . In 1935 he worked in the Department of Topography and from 1936 to 1943 in the Building Department of the Canton of Valais . From 1943 to 1949 Bonvin was head of the cantonal office for the protection of workers. From 1949 to 1955 he was involved as an engineer in the construction of the Mauvoisin dam .

Bonvin was a colonel in the Swiss Mountain Brigade 10. He founded the Patrouille des Glaciers in April 1943 - at that time still as a captain - together with Rodolphe Tissières to increase physical performance .

Political offices

Roger Bonvin after his election to the Federal Council in 1962.

Roger Bonvin did not make himself available for political office in Sion at the age of 40 . He became a local councilor (1948–1962) and succeeded Georges Maret, first as Vice President (1953–1955) and then as Mayor (1955–1962). In the cantonal parliament he represented the Sion district as a grand councilor (1957–1962). In 1955 he was elected to the National Council . In the election of Jean Bourgknecht and Ludwig von Moos to the Federal Council , he received a few votes.

After Jean Bourgknecht's resignation, National Councilor Bonvin beat the official candidate in the replacement election on September 27, 1962 and was elected to the Federal Council in the fifth ballot. He took over the finance and customs department on October 1, 1962 . There was a change of department on July 1, 1968, when he moved to the Transport and Energy Department . On October 1, 1973 the Vice President of the Federal Council, Ernst Brugger , announced the resignation of Federal President Roger Bonvin and Federal Councilors Hans-Peter Tschudi and Nello Celio on December 31, 1973.

His re-election as Federal occurred in 1963, 1967 and 1971. He was in 1966 and in 1972 Vice President of the Federal Council and was at the Government College in 1967 and 1973 was the turn of the President before.

Roger Bonvin played an essential role in the construction of the Furka Base Tunnel . This opened 20 days after his death. After Josef Escher, he was the second Federal Councilor in Valais and at the same time the first to serve as Federal President.

Election results in the Federal Assembly

  • 1962: Election to the Federal Council with 142 votes (absolute majority: 114 votes)
  • 1963: Re-election as Federal Council with 169 votes (absolute majority: 96 votes)
  • 1965: Elected Vice President of the Federal Council with 214 votes (an absolute majority of 112 votes)
  • 1966: Election to the Federal President with 181 votes (absolute majority: 96 votes)
  • 1967: Re-election as Federal Council with 151 votes (absolute majority: 89 votes)
  • 1971: Re-election as Federal Council with 164 votes (absolute majority: 107 votes)
  • 1971: Elected Vice President of the Federal Council with 131 votes (absolute majority: 89 votes)
  • 1972: Election to the Federal President with 174 votes (absolute majority: 97 votes)

literature

Web links

predecessor Office successor
Jean Bourgknecht Member of the Swiss Federal Council
1962–1973 		Hans Hürlimann
personal data
SURNAME Bonvin, Roger
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss politician (CVP)
DATE OF BIRTH September 12, 1907
PLACE OF BIRTH Icogne
DATE OF DEATH 5th June 1982
Place of death Manners