Watchdog elected for federal prosecutor

Parliament has chosen the seven members of the new, independent supervisory body of the Office of the Federal Prosecutor, which begins work in 2011.

The choice of the judges, lawyers and legal experts was not without controversy: David Zollinger, the candidate of the rightwing Swiss People’s Party, is on the board of private bank Wegelin & Co.

Zollinger’s election was opposed by centre-left parties – the Social Democrats and the Greens – but also by Dick Marty, a senator for the centre-right Radicals.

“Neither his ability nor integrity is being questioned,” Marty said. “But the choice is a mistake.”

Critics contested Zollinger’s independence, since the supervisory body also covers banks.

Alongside Zollinger will be Thierry Béguin, Giorgio Bomio, Thomas Fingerhuth, Niklaus Oberholzer, Hansjörg Seiler and the watchdog’s sole woman, Carla Wassmer.