François Couchepin , Swiss politician, born the January 19th 1935 with Martigny (Were worth) was Vice-chancelier 1981 with 1991, then Chancelier of the Confederation of 1991 with 1999.

A Valaisan radical

Wire of federal judge Louis Couchepin and cousin of the federal adviser Pascal Couchepin, it makes studies of right to Lausanne where it obtains his license in 1957. It holds the patent of notary and Valaisan lawyer since 1959. From 1964 to 1980, it is with the head of a law firm in Martigny. From 1965 to 1980, member, secretary, then president of the radical group of the Great Valaisan Council. He is unfortunate candidate with the Conseil of the States in 1975.

Vice-chancellor

In 1980, it enters to the federal Chancellery as French section head of the translation departments. Appointed vice-chancellor in 1981, he assumes in particular the preparation of the meetings of the government and holds their official reports. In 1990, he is appointed temporary with the treatment of the documents drawn up to ensure the safety of the State.

Not easily elected chancellor in 1991

Radical candidate, it is confronted with the competition of the Achille Casanova Christian-Democrat, of the democrat of center (UDC) max Friedli, and of the Socialist Kurt Nuspliger). With the sixth ballot, François Couchepin is elected successor of Walter Buser, vis-a-vis the candidate surprised Fritz Mühlemann (UDC) presented to the last minute by the mayor of Zurich, Sigmund Widmer. He profits from the socialist voices (June 12th, 2001).

Adaptation of the popular rights

He prepares two revisions of the federal law on the political rights, in 1994 and 1996, which reform the right governing the election of the National council then that on the legislation on the right to take initiatives and the right to vote. The popular initiatives must from now on be subjected to the popular voting in the ten months which follow the end of the parliamentary debates whereas no time was envisaged before what led sometimes to abuses. After the failure of a first project of revision comprising the nomination of more Secretaries of State (popular voting of June 9th, 1996), Couchepin succeeds in one year later making pass a more modest reform with the law on the organization of the government and the administration.

Data protection moreover, printed in less

Under his mandate, the federal employee with the data protection is attached to the federal Chancellery, whereas it depended on the federal Department on justice and police force, and the federal central Office of printed and from the material is transferred from the federal Chancellery to the federal Department of finances to be molten with current federal Office of constructions and logistics.

Computerization of the legislative acts

It accompanies computerization by the legislation which is accessible on line since 1999. Within the framework of the engagement of Switzerland in favor of the pacification of Balkans, the federal Chancellery organizes since 1996 the elections of Mostar, Bosnia-Herzégovine and Kosovo among the applicants of asylum in Switzerland.

Fights against the hardening of the right of asylum

Reprocessed, it writes a petition at the Parliament in relation to the new laws on asylum and the foreigners which collects more than 8000 signatures. The Parliament while not having held account, it strongly engages against the adoption of these laws before the voting of September 24th, 2006.

Publications

• Coordination of the acts of a collegial government. Review Capacities No 43, PUF, Paris 1987.

It domiciled in Lausanne, is married and father of six children.

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