Tribune de Geneve, Fre - Bernard Corboz, vice-president of the Federal Tribunal (FT), was bypassed yesterday when Parliament voted in a new FT president, Arthur Aeschlimann. The Swiss German's name was proposed by FT judges under new legal rules that replace the old rotation system, breaking with tradition.
Judges cited Aeschlimann's excellent management record but politicians from French-speaking Switzerland and Corboz voiced strong concerns that only Swiss Germans will lead the FT.
The main function of the Federal Tribunal in Lausanne is to hear civil and criminal case appeals.