Forty years of politics

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Moritz Leuenberger, centre, then president of the Social Democratic Party in Zurich, lays out his platform in the 1970s that revolved around themes of social, housing, health and education policy. Keystone

Leuenberger was elected to the House of Representatives in 1979. Here he speaks with his son, Kaspar Löwensberg, in the Swiss parliament chamber in 1984. Keystone

In September 1995 Leuenberger is elected to become one of Switzerland's seven cabinet members. He assumes leadership over the ministry for transport, communications, energy and environment. RDB

Leuenberger in July 1998 during an interview over his state of mind. Keystone

Leuenberger, who holds the transport portfolio, gets a whiff from an automobile exhaust pipe during the start of a campaign to rate vehicles on energy efficiency. February 2003. Keystone

Leuenberger assumed the rotating Swiss presidency in 2001 and 2006. Here he prepares to deliver a New Year's address in a TV studio in Bern on December 28, 2005. Keystone

During a tour of a flooded community in canton Nidwalden, August 2005. Keystone

Britain's Prince of Wales, Charles, left, and Leuenberger cut the ribbon at the inauguration of the Sunniberg bridge and the adjacent Gotschna tunnel in Klosters, canton Graubünden, December 9, 2005. Klosters is Prince Charles' favorite ski resort in Switzerland. Keystone

The minister clears mud from his boots using a cactus during a visit to various development projects in Kenya, November 2006. Keystone

Leuenberger gives a presentation on air traffic at Zurich airport on May 30, 2006. Keystone

The minister and Nobel Peace Prize winner Wangari Maathai plant a tree near Nairobi, Kenya, in November 2006, during a mission to sign a cooperation agreement with Green Belt, an NGO that takes a holistic approach to development through environmental conservation, community development and capacity building. Keystone

Artist Bruno Müller-Meyer painted a portrait of the minister, seen here in October 2007, which now hangs in Zurich cantonal offices. Keystone

Leuenberger poses next to a balloon representing CO2 emissions in front of the conference centre where negotiation of a post Kyoto protocol deal were taking place during the UN Climate Conference in December, 2007, in Bali, Indonesia. Keystone

As minister of communications, Leuenberger's offices are in charge of which radio and television stations are allowed to broadcast in Switzerland. Media surround him after the decision was announced in October 2008. Keystone

In March 2009 Leuenberger toured a large source of groundwater, some of which flows from taps in Zurich, in canton Zug. March 2009. Keystone

Leuenberger poses like George Clooney on the new official advertising poster at the Omega booth at the world watch and jewellery show 'Baselworld' in Basel on March 18, 2010. Keystone

An apple a day keeps you at the highest levels of government for 15 years: Leuenberger goes shopping at the market in Bern before a media conference on the Year of Biodiversity, January, 2010. Keystone

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Moritz Leuenberger, from militant to minister

When Moritz Leuenberger leaves cabinet at the end of 2010, the transport minister will have spent over 15 years in government, well beyond the average ten years most cabinet ministers last. But for Leuenberger, politics has been his passion for more than four decades (All pictures: Keystone, RDB)