Petra Gössi

Petra Gössi
Member of the National Council (Switzerland)
In office
5 December 2011 – 3 December 2023
Preceded byPhilipp Müller
ConstituencySchwyz
President of FDP.The Liberals
In office
16 April 2016 – October 2021
Personal details
Born (1976-01-12) 12 January 1976 (age 48)
Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland
Political partyThe Liberals
Domestic partnerJoe Hättenschwiler (since 2019)
EducationGymnasium Immensee
Alma materUniversity of Bern (Licentiate)
Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts (Master)
University of St. Gallen
OccupationPolitician / Business Consultant
Websitepetragoessi.ch (in German)

Petra Christina Antonella Gössi[1] known as Petra Gössi (born 12 January 1976) is a Swiss politician. She was a member of the National Council from 2011 to 2023 for The Liberals and was elected to the Council of States in 2023.[2] Previously she served on the Cantonal Council of Schwyz between 2004 and 2011. Since 2006, she has been a member of the management of The Liberals and between 2012 and 2016 was president of her political party.

Early life and education

Gössi was born 12 January 1976 in Lucerne, Switzerland to Anton 'Tony' and Edy (née Pini) Gössi. Her parents operated a household supply store.[3][4] Her mother hailed from Ticino, therefore she was raised bilingual.[5]

She was raised in Küssnacht am Rigi on Lake Lucerne. She attended Gymnasium Immensee, where she completed her Matura. Subsequently she studied Law at the University of Bern graduating with a Licentiate degree. She completed a Master's degree in Economic Crime Investigation at Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts.[6] Since March 2021, she is enrolled at the University of St. Gallen for a Diploma in General Management.[7][8]

Career

Gössi completed various internships and trainee programs, most prominently with Arthur Andersen in 2002, but also with local courts and law offices in Schwyz, Zug and Zürich. She held various positions until 2008, before she became a tax and business consultant for Bayron AG in Zürich.[9][10][11]

Politics

In 2004, she was elected to the Cantonal Council of Schwyz. At the age of 32, she became the council president and served in that role until 2011, when she was elected to the National Council. She was also selected as the FDP leader in Schwyz.[9]

In 2016, Gössi succeeded Philipp Müller as the leader of the national FDP.[12] She is the second woman to lead the party.[13] She resigned from this position in 2021.

In 2023 she was elected to the Council of States.

Personal life

Gössi is in a relationship with Josef Alois 'Joe' Hättenschwiler,[14] a Zürich-based psychiatrist.[15][16] She resides in Küssnacht am Rigi.[17]

References

  1. ^ "lic. iur. Petra Christina Antonella Gössi". Moneyhouse (in German). Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  2. ^ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". Federal Assembly. Retrieved 2024-09-26.
  3. ^ "Tochter wird FDP-Chefin: So freuen sich Petra Gössis Eltern". Blick (in Swiss High German). 2016-04-15. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  4. ^ AG, DV Bern. "Gössi Haushalt". Commercial register of the canton of Schwyz. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  5. ^ Aschwanden, Erich. "Petra Gössi - eine geländegängige Freisinnige | NZZ". Neue Zürcher Zeitung (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  6. ^ Liechtenstein, elipsLife Gewerbeweg 15 9490 Vaduz. "- elipsLife". www.elipslife.com. Retrieved 2023-03-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  7. ^ Matt, Interview: Othmar von. "Interview - Rennen Sie der SVP hinterher, Frau Gössi? Die FDP-Präsidentin über Corona, Niederlagen und ihre eigene Zukunft". Aargauer Zeitung (in German). Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  8. ^ "GCEI | University of St.Gallen". GCEI Home. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  9. ^ a b "Petra Gössi - eine geländegängige Freisinnige" (in German). 2016-04-02.
  10. ^ "Person – Petra Gössi". petragoessi.ch. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  11. ^ "Petra Gössi - Munzinger Biographie". www.munzinger.de. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  12. ^ "Petra Gössi ist die neue FDP-Präsidentin" (in German). Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen. 2016-04-16.
  13. ^ "Petra Gössi, nuova presidente dei liberali radicali" (in Italian). Swissinfo. 2016-04-18.
  14. ^ "Josef Alois Hättenschwiler in Zürich". Moneyhouse (in German). Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  15. ^ "FDP-Chefin Petra Gössis Freund ist der Ex von Chantal Galladé". Schweizer Illustrierte (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  16. ^ "FDP-Gössi bestätigt: SP-Galladés Alter ist ihr Neuer". Blick (in Swiss High German). 2019-01-24. Retrieved 2023-03-26.
  17. ^ digitale, WNG agence. "FDP.Die Liberalen - Parteivorstand Detail". FDP.Die Liberalen (in German). Retrieved 2023-03-26.