Women in majority in Swiss Cabinet

GENEVA: Switzerland's Parliament on Wednesday gave women a majority of Cabinet posts for the first time in the history of one of Europe's most conservative countries, in a vote hailed as a triumph for women.

Switzerland was the last European democracy to grant women the vote at national level in 1971 and the first woman Minister was only elected in 1984. Three of the seven Ministerial posts in the current government, or Federal Council, were occupied by women before Wednesday's vote.

Parliamentarian Simonetta Sommaruga became the fourth woman Minister after being elected into office with 159 votes out of 245 to replace retiring Transport Minister Moritz Leuenberger. — AFP