Arnold Koller

Koller was born 29 August 1933 in St. Gallen, Switzerland, the oldest of five children, to Alois Arnold Koller and Genoveva (née Brülisauer). His father was an organist and elementary school teacher while his mother was a homemaker. He attended schools in Appenzell. Until 1957, Koller studied Economics in St. Gallen and then until 1959 Jurisprudence at the University of Fribourg and the University of California, Berkeley. He received a Licentiate degree in both majors. He received his PhD from the University of Fribourg 1966 respectively 1971.[8]

In 1960, Koller was admitted to the Bar of Appenzell Innerrhoden. He initially worked as a counsel in the legal department of PTT and from 1964 to 1966 in the Secretary of the Swiss Cartel Commission. Since completing his doctorate he has worked as university professor and lecturer for Economics and Jurisprudence.[9]

He was elected to the Federal Council of Switzerland on 10 December 1986 as a member of the Christian Democratic People's Party of Switzerland from the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden. He handed over office on 30 April 1999.

Arnold Koller was Chairman of the Board of the Second International Conference on Federalism held in St. Gallen in 2002, and of the Forum of Federations from 2006 to 2010. This is an international organisation designed to help develop best practices in countries around the world with federal and devolved systems of government. With Raoul Blindenbacher he is the editor of the book "Federalism in a Changing World" published at McGill-Queens University Press, Montreal 2003.

During his time in office he held the following departments:[10]

• Federal Military Department (1987–1988)
• Federal Department of Justice and Police (1989)
• Federal Military Department (1989)
• Federal Department of Justice and Police (1990–1999)

He was President of the Confederation twice in 1990 and 1997.

In 1972, he married Erica Brander, then a flight attendant for Swissair.[11] They have two daughers.

Koller became an honorary citizen of Gossau in 2011.[12]

• Blindenbacher, R. and Koller, A. (eds): Federalism in a Changing World – Learning from Each Other. Montreal: McGill-Queens University Press, 2003

• Lex Koller

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Arnold Koller.

• Arnold Koller in German, French and Italian in the online Historical Dictionary of Switzerland.
• Profile of Arnold Koller with election results on the website of the Swiss Federal Council.
• Arnold Koller in the German National Library catalogue