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Widmer-Schlumpf inherits justice ministry

Newly elected cabinet member Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf will take over the justice ministry from her ousted colleague Christoph Blocher in January.

This content was published on December 18, 2007 - 15:49

Widmer-Schlumpf, also from the rightwing Swiss People's Party, was widely tipped to take over the department after none of the other cabinet ministers expressed a desire to change portfolio.

Blocher failed in a bid to be re-elected by parliament last week for another four-year term.

Traditionally, when there is a vacancy incumbents can switch ministries based on seniority. New arrivals must take what is left.

Moritz Leuenberger from the centre-left Social Democratic Party remains at the transport, communication and energy ministry; his party colleague Micheline Calmy-Rey will continue as foreign minister; Pascal Couchepin and Hans-Rudolf Merz from the centre-right Radical Party will remain at the interior and finance ministries respectively.

Doris Leuthard from the centre-right Christian Democratic Party will stick with the economy and the other representative of the People's Party, Samuel Schmid, will pursue reforms at the defence ministry.

In compliance with the JTI standards

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

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