Women Become Swiss Parliament Majority

Zurich, Switzerland (Reuters) ~ Switzerland's parliament gave women a majority in the federal cabinet for the first time on Wednesday, less than 40 years after Swiss women gained the right to vote.

Parliament chose 50-year-old consumer advocate and Social Democrat Simonetta Sommaruga for one of two vacant seats on the Federal Council, which is made up of representatives of the biggest parties in Switzerland's consensus-based government.

Sommaruga becomes the fourth female member of the seven-strong cabinet.

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