Yvette Estermann (née Gavlasová; born 26 February 1967) is a Slovakian-born physician and politician who served on the National Council (Switzerland) from 2007 to 2023.[1] During the 2023 Swiss federal election she did not run for re-election and is due to leave her post on 3 December 2023.[2]

Yvette Estermann
Official portrait, 2019
Member of the National Council (Switzerland)
In office
3 December 2007 – 3 December 2023
ConstituencyCanton of Lucerne
Personal details
Born
Iveta Gavlasová

(1967-02-26) 26 February 1967 (age 57)
Kráľová pri Senci, Senec, Czechoslovakia
Nationality
Political partySwiss People's Party
Children1
Residence(s)Kriens, Luzern, Switzerland
Alma materComenius University (PhD)
University of Bern (MA) (ongoing)
ProfessionMedical Practitioner (MD, Bratislava)
Military service
Allegiance Switzerland
Branch/service Swiss Armed Forces
Years of service16 June 2023 - present
Rank Captain

Early life and education

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Estermann was born in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia) to Zdeno Gavlas (1932-2008) and Alžbeta Gavlasová (b. 1941).[3] Her father was an insurance agent and freelance spiritual healer while her mother was a homemaker.[4]

She studied medicine at the Comenius University, where she obtained her doctorate in 1993. One year later, she emigrated to Switzerland to marry her Swiss partner and pursue studies in homeopathic medicine. After ceasing to practice medicine due to the time demands of her political office, she now works as a life coaching consultant. In 2023, Estermann made public that she is currently enrolled in theology studies at the University of Bern, and is due to graduate in 2027.[5]

Career

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After obtaining Swiss citizenship in 1999, Estermann joined the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). In 2005, she was elected to the cantonal parliament, the Grand Council of Lucerne, and in the 2007 national elections, she was elected to the National Council. Despite her foreign origin, Estermann is very vocal against immigration of foreigners into Switzerland

Estermann was member of the board of Cosmos AG, the business which ran the Swiss degree mill "Free University of Teufen".[6][7] She also did her doctorate at the university, which raised doubts about her doctorate.[8][9] She's a member of a Campaign for an Independent and Neutral Switzerland.[10]

During the 2023 Swiss federal election, Estermann decided not to run for re-election. On 16 June 2016 she was appointed Captain in the Swiss Armed Forces and will be appointed as minister within the army. She is planning to work as pastor for the reformed church after graduation.[11]

Family

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She is married to Richard F. Estermann (b. 1942), an independent consultant (Estermann Consulting) with whom she has one son, Richard Estermann, Jr. (b. 1995). She resides in Kriens, Lucerne, Switzerland.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Ratsmitglied ansehen". Federal Assembly. Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  2. ^ Flückiger, Michael. "Yvette Estermanns Patriotismus steht nicht mehr zur Wahl". zentralplus (in Swiss High German). Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  3. ^ Rundschau (SRF) Back to the roots (grave shown at min. 37:51), spelling of names
  4. ^ Rundschau (SRF) Back to the roots (min. 32:25, in German) https://www.srf.ch/play/tv/rundschau/video/back-to-the-roots-yvette-estermann?urn=urn:srf:video:536865b8-7d22-46e3-9c02-f5a857dd265d
  5. ^ "Soldaten betreuen anstatt politisieren: Yvette Estermann wird Armeeseelsorgerin". Watson (in German). Retrieved 2023-11-10.
  6. ^ Prof. Dr. Hochmut. Artikel über Schweizer Titelmühlen, Spiegel online vom 16. Juli 2008
  7. ^ Handelsregister-Meldung über das Ausscheiden von Estermann aus dem Verwaltungsrat der Cosmos AG
  8. ^ "Plagiatsaffäre - Alle Fälle von A-Z | Business And Science" (in German). Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  9. ^ Soukup, Michael (2012-12-09). "SVP-Nationalrätin ist ihren Doktortitel los". Tages-Anzeiger (in German). ISSN 1422-9994. Retrieved 2019-07-26.
  10. ^ ASIN Bulletin, Élections fédérales 2015: 43 membres de l'ASIN à Berne, n°178, december 2015, p.3
  11. ^ https://www.blick.ch/politik/vom-parlament-in-die-armee-nationalraetin-yvette-estermann-wird-armeeseelsorgerin-id18711185.html
  12. ^ Schweizer Illustrierte http://estermann-aktuell.ch/media/blogs/a/si_20130729_060.pdf?mtime=1376854014
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