{{short description|90th President of the Swiss Confederation}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Hans-Rudolf Merz | image = Hans-Rudolf Merz, 2009.jpg | office3 = [[List of members of the Swiss Federal Council|Member of the Swiss Federal Council]] | term_start3 = 1 January 2004 | term_end3 = 1 November 2010 | predecessor3 = [[Kaspar Villiger]] | successor3 = [[Johann Schneider-Ammann]] | office = [[President of the Swiss Confederation|President of Switzerland]] | vice_president = Doris Leuthard | term_start = 1 January 2009 | term_end = 31 December 2009 | predecessor = [[Pascal Couchepin]] | successor = [[Doris Leuthard]] | office1 = [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Vice President of Switzerland]] | president1 = [[Pascal Couchepin]] | term_start1 = 1 January 2008 | term_end1 = 31 December 2008 | predecessor1 = Pascal Couchepin | successor1 = [[Doris Leuthard]] | office2 = Head of the [[Federal Department of Finance|Department of Finance]] | term_start2 = 1 January 2004 | term_end2 = 1 November 2010 | predecessor2 = [[Kaspar Villiger]] | successor2 = [[Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf]] | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1942|11|10|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Herisau]], Switzerland | death_date = | death_place = | spouse = {{marriage|Roswitha Katharina Schüller|1968|2016|reason=died}} | children = 3 | profession = [[Management consulting|Management consultant]] | party = [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|Free Democratic Party]] (before 2009)<br>[[FDP.The Liberals]] (2009–present) | alma_mater = [[University of St. Gallen]] | image_size = 200px | caption = Official portrait, 2009 | birth_name = Hans Rudolf Merz }} '''Hans-Rudolf Merz''' ({{IPA|de|ˈhansʁuˌdɔlf mɛrts}}; born 10 November 1942) is a Swiss politician who served as [[President of the Swiss Confederation|President of Switzerland]] in 2009. He concurrently served as a member of the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Federal Council]] from 2004 to 2010 for the [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|Free Democratic Party]] (since 2009 [[The Liberals (Switzerland)|The Liberals]]).
Born in [[Herisau]], Switzerland, into an industrial family, Merz graduated from the [[University of St. Gallen]] with a [[Doctorate]] in [[economics]] in 1971. Upon graduation he worked for various banks as well as consultant in [[Emerging market|emerging countries]] before entering politics.
During his tenure in the Swiss government he was mostly associated with the [[Swiss banking secrecy|Swiss Banking Secrecy]] and the tax dispute with the U.S. (UBS affair) as well as the [[Libya–Switzerland relations|Libya-Switzerland relations]], after the crisis stemmed from the arrest of [[Hannibal Gaddafi]], son of [[Muammar Gaddafi]].
==Early life and education== Merz was born 10 November 1942 in [[Herisau]], Switzerland, the oldest of three children, to Adolf Merz (1916–1996), a textile manufacturer, and Hedwig Merz ([[Birth name|née]] Brand; 1912–1996). He had two siblings; Adrian Merz (born 1945) and Doris Merz (born 1948).<ref>{{Cite web |title=80 Jahre Hans-Rudolf Merz - «Ich bin alleine, aber nicht einsam» |url=https://www.srf.ch/radio-srf-musikwelle/lebensgeschichte/80-jahre-hans-rudolf-merz-ich-bin-alleine-aber-nicht-einsam |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) |language=de}}</ref>
The Merz family originally hails from [[Beinwil am See]] on [[Lake Hallwil]]. In 1866, his great-great-grandfather, Heinrich Merz (1831–1872), emigrated to [[Eastern Switzerland]], where the family was active in the textile industry until 1970.<ref>Peter Granwehr - Spuren der Familie Merz in der Ostschweiz (in German)</ref> During his youth, Merz was a [[Swiss Guide and Scout Movement|Scout]] and visited the National Jamboree of Switzerland in July 2008.<ref>{{cite web |author=news.search.ch |title=Hoher Besuch im Pfadfinder-Bundeslager |url=http://news.search.ch/inland/2008-07-25/hoher-besuch-im-pfadfinder-bundeslager |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120711100103/http://news.search.ch/inland/2008-07-25/hoher-besuch-im-pfadfinder-bundeslager |archive-date=2012-07-11 |access-date=2008-07-25 |language=de}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=SF Tagesschau |title="VIP-Tag" im Pfadi-Bundeslager- Lagerleitung empfängt Bundesrat Merz |url=http://tagesschau.sf.tv/nachrichten/archiv/2008/07/25/schweiz/vip_tag_im_pfadi_bundeslager |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091101135128/http://tagesschau.sf.tv/nachrichten/archiv/2008/07/25/schweiz/vip_tag_im_pfadi_bundeslager |archive-date=2009-11-01 |access-date=2008-07-25 |language=de}}</ref>
After completing his [[Compulsory education|compulsory schooling]] with the [[Matura]] at Kantonsschule Trogen (KST), Merz studied [[economics]] at the [[University of St. Gallen]], graduating with a [[Doctorate]].
== Political career == From 1969 to 1974, he was party secretary of the [[Free Democratic Party of Switzerland|Free Democratic Party]] (FDP/PRD) in St. Gallen. From 1974 to 1977 he worked as vice president for [[UBS]]'s Wolfsberg formation centre in [[Ermatingen]]. Since then he has worked as a management consultant. In 1997 he was elected to the [[Council of States (Switzerland)|Swiss Council of States]] for the [[canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden]]. He presided over the finance committee and was a member of the foreign policy committee.
=== Swiss Federal Council === Merz was elected to the [[Federal Council (Switzerland)|Swiss Federal Council]] on 10 December 2003 and took office on 1 January 2004. At the time he was on the board of directors of the Helvetia-Patria insurance company and Anova Holding. He was also a member of the board of trustees of the Max Schmidheiny Foundation.
[[File:Bundesrat der Schweiz 2009.jpg|thumb|left|2009 Swiss Federal Council]] On 20 September 2008, whilst in Eastern Switzerland, Merz was rushed to hospital, having suffered from a [[Myocardial infarction|heart attack]]. He was soon flown to Bern University Hospital, where he had a multiple [[Bypass surgery|bypass operation]]. He was also placed into an artificial coma. This led to a reorganisation of the cabinet and the absence of President [[Pascal Couchepin]] from the [[United Nations General Assembly]] in New York City.<ref>{{cite web | title = Cabinet announces reorganisation | author = news.search.ch | url = http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Cabinet_announces_reorganisation.html?siteSect=108&sid=9758381&cKey=1222179725000&ty=st | archive-url = https://archive.today/20120526092929/http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/front/Cabinet_announces_reorganisation.html?siteSect=108&sid=9758381&cKey=1222179725000&ty=st | url-status = dead | archive-date = May 26, 2012 | access-date = 2008-09-23 }}</ref> On 10 December 2008, as the Member of the Federal Council that had not been its president for the longest time, Merz was elected [[President of the Swiss Confederation|President of the Confederation]] for 2009. In the [[Federal Assembly (Switzerland)|Federal Assembly]], the 66-year-old received 185 out of 209 valid votes. He succeeded Free Democratic Party colleague [[Pascal Couchepin]]. [[Doris Leuthard]] was elected as Vice President of the Confederation, succeeding Merz.
On 20 September 2010, a recording of Merz replying to a question about meat imports in the Federal Assembly<ref>{{cite web|title=10.5354. Fragestunde: Frage Grin Jean-Pierre, Zunahme der Importmenge von gewürztem Fleisch|url=http://www.parlament.ch/ab/frameset/d/n/4815/334353/d_n_4815_334353_334373.htm|work=Official Bulletin of the Swiss Federal Assembly|access-date=24 September 2010|date=20 September 2010}}</ref> became a [[viral video]], drawing international attention. Merz convulsed with laughter when speaking, later saying that he found the dense bureaucratic language of the reply drafted for him by customs officials amusing.<ref name="Guardian 2010">{{cite news|title=Swiss watch as minister cracks up|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/blog/2010/sep/24/swiss-watch-minister-crack-up|access-date=24 September 2010|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|date=24 September 2010 }}</ref> He was attempting to provide information about whether the sales of [[Bündnerfleisch]] in Switzerland were endangered by meat imports.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.20min.ch/story/merz-klebt-auf-dem-bue-bue-buendnerfleisch-202380161822|title=Merz klebt auf dem Bü.. Bü.. Bündnerfleisch|date=September 23, 2010|website=20 Minuten}}</ref>
== Personal life == In 1968, Merz married Roswitha Katharina Schüller (1941–2016), daughter of Wilhelm Schüller, an artist, and Anna Schüller ([[née]] Schüffler). They were introduced since she worked at his parents company in the creative department.<ref>https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/de/articles/044859/2022-10-10/</ref> His wife suffered from [[Alzheimer's disease]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schmid-Gugler |first=Brigitte |date=2016-03-09 |title=Die Fülle des Lebens ausgeschöpft |url=https://www.tagblatt.ch/kultur/die-fuelle-des-lebens-ausgeschoepft-ld.1009211 |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=St. Galler Tagblatt |language=de}}</ref> They had three sons;
* Markus Merz (born 1969), married to Daniela Sturzenegger, no issue. * Urs Merz (born 1971), married to Zlatica, one son. * Felix Merz (born 1976), never married and no issue.
Merz resides in [[Herisau]], Switzerland.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hans-Rudolf Merz: «Meine Söhne wissen, wo mein Geld ist» |url=https://www.schweizer-illustrierte.ch/people/swiss-stars/alt-bundesrat-hans-rudolf-merz-zur-cs-rettung-meine-sohne-wissen-wo-mein-geld-ist-588939?srsltid=AfmBOopSAQzr_Df6Yt5ASh0tfGJV1NTM0DaIS6OBrCzrkerKGIu5ddtJ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=Schweizer Illustrierte |language=de-CH}}</ref> He is an aficionado for [[classical music]] and the [[opera]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=Südostschweiz |date=2012-09-15 |title=Merz-Biografie zahlt den Preis der Autorisation {{!}} Südostschweiz |url=https://www.suedostschweiz.ch/zeitung/merz-biografie-zahlt-den-preis-der-autorisation |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.suedostschweiz.ch |language=de-CH}}</ref>
==Works== *Merz, Hans-Rudolf: ''Finanz- und Verwaltungsvermögen in öffentlich-rechtlicher und wirtschaftlicher Betrachtungsweise, unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Staatsrechnungen der Kantone.'', St. Gallen 1971 *Merz, Hans-Rudolf: ''Die aussergewöhnliche Führungspersönlichkeit: Essay über Elativität und elative Persönlichkeit.'', Grüsch 1987. {{ISBN|3-7253-0297-9}} *Merz, Hans-Rudolf: ''Der Landammann und weitere Erzählungen aus dem Appenzellerland'', Herisau 1992. {{ISBN|3-85882-072-5}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Swiss Federal Councillor|hans-rudolf-merz}} *{{Parliament.ch|398|language=German}} *{{HDS|44859}}
{{Commons category|Hans-Rudolf Merz}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=[[Kaspar Villiger]]|rows=2}} {{s-ttl|title=[[List of members of the Swiss Federal Council|Member of the Swiss Federal Council]]|years=2004–2010}} {{s-aft|after=[[Johann Schneider-Ammann]]}} |- {{s-ttl|title=Head of the [[Federal Department of Finance|Department of Finance]]|years=2004–2010}} {{s-aft|after=[[Eveline Widmer-Schlumpf]]}} |- {{s-bef|before=[[Pascal Couchepin]]|rows=2}} {{s-ttl|title=Vice President of Switzerland|years=2008}} {{s-aft|after=[[Doris Leuthard]]|rows=2}} |- {{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Swiss Confederation|President of Switzerland]]|years=2009}} {{s-end}}
{{Swiss Presidents}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Merz, Hans-Rudolf}} [[Category:1942 births]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:People from Herisau]] [[Category:Swiss Calvinist and Reformed Christians]] [[Category:Free Democratic Party of Switzerland politicians]] [[Category:FDP.The Liberals politicians]] [[Category:Presidents of the Swiss Confederation]] [[Category:Finance ministers of Switzerland]] [[Category:Members of the Federal Council (Switzerland)]] [[Category:Members of the Council of States (Switzerland) for Appenzell Ausserrhoden]] [[Category:Scouting and Guiding in Switzerland]] [[Category:University of St. Gallen alumni]]