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René Felber (born in Bienne March 14, 1933) is a Swiss politician. He was a teacher in Boudevilliers and Le Locle (canton of Neuchâtel). He was mayor of Le Locle from 1964 to 1980 (in charge of gas and electricity supply and then of Finance), member of the Cantonal Parliament of Neuchâtel (1965-76). He sat in the National Council from 1967 to 1981 when he became a member of the State Council of the canton of Neuchâtel in charge of the Finance Department until his election to the Federal Council. In 1980/81, he was the floor leader of the Social democratic Party in the Federal Parliament.
He was elected to the Swiss Federal Council on December 9, 1987 as member of the Canton of Neuchâtel and for the Social Democratic Party.
During his time in office, he headed the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs and was President of the Confederation in 1992. Felber fought for Swiss membership ot the European Economic Area that was narrowly defeated in a referendum on 6 December 1992.
He resigned from the Council on March 31, 1993.
Preceded by: Pierre Aubert | Member of the Swiss Federal Council 1987–1993 | Succeeded by: Ruth Dreifuss Template:End boxde:René Felber fr:René Felber pl:René Felber |