Former Swiss President Alphons Egli dead at 91

Alphons Egli was a member of the Swiss cabinet from 1983-1986. Keystone

Former Swiss President Alphons Egli has passed away at a Lucerne nursing home at the age of 91. He had served as interior minister from 1983-1986.

Born in Lucerne in 1924, Egli followed in the footsteps of his father, who was also a politician. Egli studied law and opened his own office in 1952. As an elected official, he served at the local and cantonal levels in Lucerne in the 1960s and 1970s.

A member of the Christian Democratic Party, Egli became a senator in 1975. In December 1982, Egli was elected to the cabinet as interior minister, taking over for his party colleague Hans Hürlimann. Although he served on the cabinet for just four years, Egli made an impact – particularly in environmental affairs such as pollution and forest health. Also thanks to Egli, national speed limits were reduced and a standardised date for the start of the school year was set.

After taking his turn as Swiss president, Egli resigned in 1986. Then 62, he had been showing signs of exhaustion. Egli then served on a number of boards and worked as a freelance consultant.

As his family confirmed to the Swiss News Agency on Saturday, Egli died on August 5. The honorary citizen of Entlebuch was married and the father of three children.