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Swiss politician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Flavia Alessandra Wasserfallen[1] (German pronunciation: [ˈflaːvi̯a ˈvasɐˌfalən]; born 7 February 1979) is a Swiss politician who serves on the Council of States (Switzerland) the Social Democratic Party since 2023.[2] She previously served on the National Council (Switzerland) from 2018 to 2023 and the Grand Council of Bern between 2002 and 2012.[3] She is likely not related to Christian Wasserfallen of The Liberals.[4][5]
Flavia Wasserfallen | |
---|---|
Member of the Council of States (Switzerland) | |
Assumed office 4 December 2023 | |
Constituency | Canton of Bern |
Member of the National Council (Switzerland) | |
In office 28 May 2018 – 3 December 2023 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Flavia Alessandra Wasserfallen 7 February 1979 Bern, Switzerland |
Spouse |
Omar El Mohib
(m. 2007) |
Children | 3 |
Residence | Bern, Switzerland |
Alma mater | University of Bern (Master's degree) University of Bologna |
Website | Official website Parliament website |
Wasserfallen was born 7 February 1979 in Bern, Switzerland, the oldest of three children, to Bruno Wasserfallen (born 1948) and Anna Wasserfallen (née Mastrocola), both municipal politicians for the Social Democratic Party.[6][7][8] Her maternal grandfather, Mario Mastrocola (1914–1978), was an Italian bassoon musician, who naturalized as a Swiss citizen in 1960.[9][10]
She has two younger brothers and was raised in the hamlet of Hinterkappelen (part of Wohlen bei Bern). In 1998, Wasserfallen completed her Matura, at Gymnasium Bern-Neufeld, followed by a gap year spent working as a snowboard teacher.[11] Between 2000–2007, she completed studies with a major in political science and a minor in economics, at the University of Bern and erasmus exchange at the University of Bologna, graduating with a Master's degree.[12]
Wasserfallen was a freelance snowboard teacher for a gap year in 1999 and thereafter during her studies at the University of Bern. In 2006, she started her professional career working in a variety of positions at the Federal Office of Energy.[13]
In 2010 she established a local service who distributes organic vegetables to the city of Bern. She credits this with keeping her in contact with working people.[14][15]
Between 2012 and 2018 she was a member of the Grand Council of Bern and the co-secretary of the SP.[16] She succeeded Evi Alleman (who was elected into the executive council of Bern) in the National Council in June 2018.[16] After Simonetta Sommaruga announced her resignation from the Federal Council in November 2022, she was considered a potential candidate, but she declined, alleging her envisioned candidacy to the Council of States. [17] During the 2023 Swiss federal election, Wasserfallen was elected into the Council of States (Switzerland).[18]
She advocates for equal pay and affordable health care.[16] She advocates for better working conditions in relation to the patients[19] and she is the president of the Mother and Father Counseling Association.[20] In September 2020, she was a co-founder of FC Helvetia, the female football team of the Swiss Parliament.[21] In November 2022, Wasserfallen cut her hair in solidarity with the women in Iran, who were protesting against the Government in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini.[22]
Wasserfallen is married to Omar El Mohib.[23] They have three children (born 2008, 2012 and 2016).[16]
Her place of origin is Langnau im Emmental and Ferenbalm.[24]
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