14 Facts About Joseph Deiss

Joseph Deiss was born on 18 January 1946 and is a Swiss economist and politician who served as a Member of the Swiss Federal Council from 1999 to 2006.

Joseph Deiss started his political career in 1981 as a representative of his party in the Grand Council of Fribourg.

Between 1982 and 1996 Joseph Deiss assumed the mayorship of his home village Barbereche.

From 1995 to 1996 Joseph Deiss was vice president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Council.

Joseph Deiss was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on 11 March 1999, along with his erstwhile colleague Ruth Metzler.

Joseph Deiss eventually won after the sixth ballot, by 120 to 119 votes.

Joseph Deiss was elected President of the Confederation for 2004, one year earlier than would have been regular.

Joseph Deiss became the only remaining representative of the CVP in the Council.

Joseph Deiss studied economics and social sciences for his first degree at the University of Fribourg.

Joseph Deiss continued to complete a doctorate at the same university after which he spent some time doing research at King's College at the University of Cambridge.

From 1993 to 1996 Joseph Deiss acted as National Price Supervisor.

Joseph Deiss then returned to the University of Fribourg to become the Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Social Sciences.

In 2009 Joseph Deiss was awarded an honorary degree Doctor Honoris Causa from Business School Lausanne in recognition of his achievements to reinforce and expand the political and economic position of Switzerland.

Joseph Deiss is an Honorary Member of The International Raoul Wallenberg Foundation Joseph Deiss is an Honorary Member of AFIS Swiss International Civil Servants Association.