Marcel Pintail-Golaz

Marcel Pintail-Golaz , Swiss politician , born the December 31st 1889, deceased the April 11th 1958, middle-class man of Castle-in Œx (Vaud). Federal adviser of 1929 with 1944.

  • Left radical-democratic

Studies and career

  • Doctor in right of the university of Lausanne in 1912.
  • Lawyer.
  • Major with the army (in a battalion to shoot)
  • Member of the radical party, it was appointed with the Grand the Council Vaud ois between 1921 and 1928 national
  • Conseiller between 1925 and 1928.

Federal adviser

  • It is elected at the Federal council the December 13rd 1928.
  • 1929 Département of the interior
  • 1930-1939 Département of the stations and the railroads
  • 1940 Département political
  • 1940 Department of the stations and the railroads
  • 1941-1944 Department political
  • As a president of the Confederation, it gives a speech to the nation, then in full crisis of confidence following the French capitulation, the June 25th 1940, in order to reassure the population. This speech, ambiguous because it speaks there about an authoritative reform of the democracy , is very badly perceived. Ambiguity increases further when in September it receives members of the Swiss National movement (pro hitlérien).

  • Nevertheless, it applies with zeal the official policy of neutrality and independence. He resigns in 1944 and always refused to be explained on his political action.

  • It was president of the Confederation in 1934 and 1940.

Pintail-Golaz passed for a pragmatic man who tried to arrange himself after a fashion with the Fascisme German and Italian; of aucuns sympathies to Fascism reproached him.

As a chief of the foreign policy, Pintail-Golaz was to find a balance between the German requirements, the requests of the Alliés and the will to remain independent of Switzerland. The way which it chose, to draw up relatively a positive ratio with the Third Reich, was very disputed, as well while after the war.

Its attempt to come into contact with the Soviet Union in 1944 was curtly refused by this one and on that Pintail-Golaz lost any support and saw itself obliged to resign.

External bonds

  • Article in the historical Dictionary of Switzerland
  • Swiss Diplomatic Documents (DDS)
  • Information and photo

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