Arnold Koller | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Member of the Federal Council | |
| In office 1986–1999 | |
| Preceded by | Kurt Furgler |
| Succeeded by | Ruth Metzler |
| President of Switzerland | |
| In office 1 January 1997 – 31 December 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Jean-Pascal Delamuraz |
| Succeeded by | Flavio Cotti |
| In office 1 January 1990 – 31 December 1990 | |
| Preceded by | Jean-Pascal Delamuraz |
| Succeeded by | Flavio Cotti |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Arnold Koller (1933-08-29)29 August 1933 (age 91) St. Gallen,Switzerland[1] |
| Political party | Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
| Alma mater | University of St. Gallen (Licentiate) University of Fribourg (Licentiate) University of Fribourg (PhD) |
Arnold Koller (/kɒllər/;koll-ər born 29 August 1933) is a Swiss professor and politician. He served as a member of theFederal Council from 1987 to 1999 for theChristian Democratic People's Party (CVP). Koller previously served as a member of theNational Council from 1971 to 1986.[2] He did also serve two terms of the asPresident of the Swiss Confederation in 1990 and 1997.[3][4][5] He is primarily known forLex Koller, a Swiss Federal Act on Acquisitions of Real Estate by Persons Abroad, which he initiated.[6][7]
Koller was born 29 August 1933 inSt. Gallen, Switzerland, the oldest of five children, to Alois Arnold Koller and Genoveva (née Brülisauer). His father was an organist and elementary school teacher while his mother was a homemaker. He attended schools inAppenzell. Until 1957, Koller studiedEconomics inSt. Gallen and then until 1959 Jurisprudence at theUniversity of Fribourg and theUniversity of California, Berkeley. He received aLicentiate degree in both majors. He received hisPhD from theUniversity of Fribourg 1966 respectively 1971.[8]
In 1960, Koller was admitted to the Bar ofAppenzell Innerrhoden. He initially worked as a counsel in the legal department ofPTT and from 1964 to 1966 in the Secretary of the Swiss Cartel Commission. Since completing his doctorate, he has worked as university professor and lecturer forEconomics andJurisprudence.[9]
He was elected to theFederal Council on 10 December 1986 as a member of theChristian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland from the canton ofAppenzell Innerrhoden. He handed over office on 30 April 1999.
During his time in office he held the following departments:[10]
He wasPresident of the Confederation twice in 1990 and 1997.
Arnold Koller wasChairman of the Board of the Second International Conference on Federalism held inSt. Gallen in 2002. The conference was organised based on the Governmental Learning Spiral, a method to design problem-solving events in politics. The conference background papers, proceedings and plenary speeches as well as the method are described in the book "Federalism in a Changing World – Learning from Each Other", which he edited together with Raoul Blindenbacher.[11]
From 2006 to 2010 Arnold Koller was the Chair of theForum of Federations. This is an international organisation designed to help develop best practices in countries around the world with federal and devolved systems of government.
In 1972, he married Erica Brander, then a flight attendant forSwissair.[12] They have two daughters.Koller became an honorary citizen ofGossau in 2011.[13]
- Blindenbacher, R. and Koller, A. (eds): Federalism in a Changing World – Learning from Each Other. Background Papers, Proceedings and Plenary Speeches of the International Conference on Federalism 2002. Montreal:McGill-Queens University Press, 2003.
- Koller, A., Thürer, D. and Dafflon, B.: Principles of Federalism. Guidelines for Good Federal Practices – A Swiss Contribution. Zurich: Dike Verlag, 2012.
- Koller, A.: Aus der Werkstatt eines Bundesrates. Bern: Stämpfli Verlag, 2014
| Political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | President of the Swiss National Council 1984/1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Member of the Swiss Federal Council 1986–1999 | Succeeded by |
| 1848–1874 |  | |
|---|---|---|
| 1875–1899 | ||
| 1900–1924 | ||
| 1925–1949 | ||
| 1950–1974 | ||
| 1975–1999 | ||
| 2000–present | ||
