Suicide in the Bundesrat
Marina Amstad
25. December 2020
Fridolin Anderwert took his own life on 25 December 1880. The Federal Councillor’s suicide came after a smear campaign by the media.
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Since 1848, Switzerland has been governed by the Federal Council. But who are the people who direct the fate of the Swiss Confederation? Photographs, film clips, documents and clothing take visitors on a fascinating journey back in time to meet the 119 members of the nation’s government. At the centre of the exhibition, visitors can look around a replica of a Federal Council chamber. Another section of the exhibition showcases gifts received by the Swiss government from all over the world.
Switzerland’s Federal Councillors since 1848 – Introductory tour
Secondary levels I and II
Guided tour of the exhibition «Switzerland’s Federal Councillors since 1848».
1 hour
Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.
Guided tours in English can be arranged, even outside opening hours. Guided tours are free of charge for school classes from Switzerland.
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at least 2 weeks in advance |
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Duration: |
1 hour guided tours, other services by prior arrangement |
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max. 25 people |
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Guided tours for school classes from Switzerland are free of charge. |
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National Museum Zurich
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Federal Councillors since 1848
National Museum Zurich
| 14.2.2019 - 22.4.2019
published on 1.3.2021
For over 170 years now, seven people have governed the Swiss Confederation. But who were the men and, from 1984, the women who have held this high office? An exhibition at the National Museum Zurich introduces these important figures from our nation’s history.
Every four years, the United Federal Assembly elects seven Swiss citizens, both men and women, to the national government. The composition of the Federal Council is kept as balanced as possible. This applies for party and canton affiliation and for mother tongue and, for some years now, gender has also been an important consideration. But who are the 119 Swiss citizens who have steered the fate of the nation since 1848? The National Museum Zurich has lifted the curtain on this select group, and takes a closer look at the many individuals who have played their part.
There is Fridolin Anderwert, who committed suicide in 1880 after a destructive campaign against him in the press. And Emil Frey, who fought in the American Civil War and later took up a position in our national government without any difficulty, despite his status as a dual citizen. There’s Elisabeth Kopp, the first woman appointed to the Federal Council, and Constant Fornerod, who after his term in office managed a bank and was held responsible for its subsequent bankruptcy, an offence for which he served several years in prison. The exhibition tells these and other stories.
The centrepiece of the show is a replica of the Federal Council chamber. ‘Kollektiv Krönlihalle’, a group of Zurich artists, has reconstructed the room at almost two thirds of its actual size. So if you dream of someday being elected to the national government, you can come in and take a ‘test-sit’ here. Another section of the exhibition showcases gifts the Swiss Government has received over the years from all over the world. For example, the diary of the Austrian Empress Elisabeth is on display. Sisi, as she was known, bequeathed her diary to the Swiss Confederation because she was afraid her writings would be destroyed in her own country. In her diary entries she criticised life at court and the Austrian monarchy.
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- Overall management Andreas Spillmann
- Project directors and exhibition curators Marina Amstad, Pascale Meyer
- Scientific consultancy Prof. Urs Altermatt, Dr. Thomas Zaugg
- Exhibition design Atelier Gillmann + Co GmbH, Basel
- Graphics Selina Locher, Andreas Hidber, Accent graphe Basel
- Nachbau Bundesratssitzungszimmer Kollektiv Krönlihalle: Seraina Borner, Barbara Brandmaier, Markus Läubli, Christoph Menzi, Andrea Münch, Thomas Stächelin
- Der Bundesratsfilm Regula Bochsler, Prismago GmbH, Adrian Kelterborn
- Marketing & communication Andrej Abplanalp, Alexander Rechsteiner, Carole Neuenschwander, Sebastiano Mereu, Anna-Britta Maag
- Technische Leitung | Direction technique | Direzione tecnica | Technical management Henrike Binder, Viola Valsesia
- Exhibition installation Bachir Ezzerari, Kim Badertscher, Janine auf der Maur, Ladina Fait, Marc Häggeli, Mike Roder, David Schwitter
- Light: Ursula Degen Marc Hägelin
- Preparation and mounting of exhibits Elisabeth Kleine, Sarah Longrée, Veronique Mathieu, Tino Zagermann
- Loans Maya Jucker, Angela Zeier
- Cultural services and museum education Severin Marty, Stefanie Bittmann
- Logistics of objects Christian Affentranger, David Blazquez, Simon D’Hollosy, Reto Hegetschweiler, Markus Scherer
- IT | Web Thomas Bucher, Pasquale Pollastro, Danilo Rüttimann, René Vogel
- Translations Laurence Neuffer, Nigel Stephenson, Tradukas AG
- Staatsarchiv Basel-Stadt
- Kunstsammlungen des Bundes, Bern
- Schweizerisches Bundesarchiv, Bern
- Schweizerisches Literaturarchiv, Bern
- Zentralbibliothek Zürich
- Magdalena Schneider-Minger