Dreifuss, Ruth (1940–)

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Dreifuss, Ruth (1940–)

Swiss politician and economist. Born Jan 9, 1940, in St. Gallen, Switzerland; grew up in Geneva; earned a degree in economics from Geneva University.

A Social Democrat, was elected to the Swiss Federal Cabinet (Mar 1993), serving as interior minister until 2002; was elected, by Parliament, to the 1-year presidential post of the Swiss Confederation (1999), only the 2nd woman and the 1st Jew.