The election of Simonetta Sommaruga, a Social Democrat, is a historic step in a country where women only got to vote on a national level in 1971.. Ms Sommaruga becomes the fourth female [r]
(1)Women dominate new Swiss cabinet
The election of Simonetta Sommaruga (centre) is a historic moment
Switzerland's parliament has voted a new minister into the government, giving the cabinet a majority of women for the first time.
The election of Simonetta Sommaruga, a Social Democrat, is a historic step in a country where women only got to vote on a national level in 1971
Ms Sommaruga becomes the fourth female in the seven-member Federal Council
One of the other posts in the Federal Council will be filled by another vote later in the day
The seven members of the Swiss cabinet have recently always been drawn from the four leading parties
Women in Switzerland have traditionally had a low-key role in public life, says the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Berne
They first got to vote at local canton level in 1959, but not at federal level until 1971 The last canton, Appenzell Innerrhoden, finally granted them voting rights in 1990
The first female government minister was elected in 1984, but until now only six women have ever held ministerial posts
But, when it comes to gender equality, the new team will still have a mountain to climb, our correspondent says