Numa Droz

Numa Droz ( born January 27, 1844 in La Chaux -de-Fonds, † December 15, 1899 in Bern ) was a Swiss politician. Initially, he worked as an engraver, teacher and journalist, the late 1860s he began his political career as a Grand Council and State Council in the canton of Neuchatel. As one of the few non-graduates of the representatives of the liberal- radical faction (now the FDP) was elected in December 1875 in the Federal Council. Droz is still the youngest Federal at all. He belonged to the state government until 1892.

Biography

Professional and policy

As Droz was six years old, his father died, a watchmaker. His mother had him and bring four siblings alone and was occasionally dependent on charity. At the age of 14 years Droz completed a one-year apprenticeship as an engraver in the watch factory Grandjean & Perrenoud. From 1859 onwards Droz was employed in Protestant boarding school Grandchamp in Boudry as overseer and tutor. In the self-study, he acquired the patent as a primary school teacher and taught for two years in 1862 in Chaumont and Neuchâtel.

In Neuchâtel Droz soon came with the radical liberals in contact and fell with his speakers and writing talent. The position as editor of the party newspaper Le National suisse (1864-1871) he used as a springboard into politics. In November 1869 he was elected a deputy of the Grand Council (grand conseil ). In July 1871 he was only 27 years old, the choice was followed in the Council of State ( Conseil d'Etat ).

As head of the Education and Culture Department he set in 1872 by a new liberal education law against strong opposition from conservative circles. The following year, the church organization Act was passed. It guaranteed the freedom of conscience of the pastors, but led to a split of the Reformed Church and establishing the independent Église indépendante.

As of December 1872 represented Droz the canton of Neuchâtel in the Senate. He actively participated in the debate on the new Federal Constitution and was one of the authors of the compromise proposal, which in the 1874 referendum was a majority. In December 1875 Droz was elected Senate president, but held that post from a few days.

Bundesrat

On December 10, 1875 Droz was in the choice of the Seventh Federal 65 votes, but was defeated Bernhard Hammer. On the same day Louis Ruchonnet was elected fourth Bundesrat. But since he did not accept the election, a special election was held eight days later. Charles Estoppey received on the first ballot an absolute majority, but also refused to accept the office. Finally, the choice fell on the 31-year Droz, who won on the second ballot 85 of 168 valid votes.

First Droz was in 1876 before the Department of Home Affairs. He sat at the Factory Act of 1877, with its experience and his experience as he watches workers. Heavily involved he was in the creation of the Trade and Agriculture departments, which 1879/80 and 1882 to 1886, he headed. In this capacity, he sat through numerous laws to protect the Swiss industry, which mainly benefited the watch industry.

1881 Droz was first Federal President, and thus as was customary at the same time head of the Political Department. After the second election to the presidency in 1888, he broke the first Federal Council with this principle of rotation and remained until his resignation as head of the new Department of Foreign Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated. 1889, there was a foreign policy crisis, when the German police inspector August Wohlgemuth was reported in Switzerland for spy activities against German emigrants. The German Chancellor Otto von Bismarck then threatened with reprisals, but kept the government was printing.

Other activities

On December 31, 1892, he resigned as Federal. The " system Droz " was questioned and until 1920 took over again automatically the President, the Office of Foreign Affairs. From 1893 headed Droz the International Transport Office. In 1897 he opposed the creation of a state bank. Although he still had in 1878 supported the supplementary financing of the Gotthard Railway with taxpayers' money, he twenty years later rejected the nationalization of the railways from decided and fell out here with many political friends. Droz rejected offers to act as governor of Crete and as advisor to the King of Siam. In his spare time he pursued political studies and historical research. At the age of 55 years he died of meningitis.

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