• Source: Thomas de Courten

Thomas Jan de Courten (born 29 July 1966) is a Swiss businessman and politician. He currently serves as a member of the National Council for the Swiss People's Party (SVP) since 5 December 2011. Between 2003 and 2011, he served in the Cantonal Council of Basel-Landschaft, and as the congressional president for his party since 2007. He was also the president of the national economy and health commissions respectively.




Early life and education


De Courten was born in Basel, Switzerland to Dr. Donald J. de Courten and Heidi (née Kjölbye). His father was an executive in the pharmaceutical industry, namely for F. Hoffmann-La Roche and Givaudan. His mother was of Danish descent. He was primarily raised in Oberwil, a suburb of Basel, where he attended local schools.
He hails from the old-established de Courten family of Sierre and Geschinen in Valais. His paternal third great-grandparents (lineage of Longinus de Courten) emigrated from Valais to the East Coast of the United States in the 1880s. His paternal great-grandfather Othmar J. de Courten (1859–1936) was naturalized as an American citizen on March 28, 1895, while living with his in-laws in Chicago, Illinois. The family returned to Switzerland twice, initially in 1893, where his grandfather was born, and again in 1908.
De Courten completed his degree in economics at the HWV Basel (today University of Applied Sciences Northwestern Switzerland) in Basel, Switzerland.




Career


Between 1994 and 1996, de Courten was Head of Marketing for Power Light Productions AG, before becoming a vice president for the Chamber of Commerce of Basel-Landschaft, where he was primarily responsible for the business development in small- and medium-sized enterprises. In 2015, he was appointed by the Canton of Basel-Landschaft for the efficient operation of business development in the region. Since 2005, he is also active as independent consultant and principal owner of politcom, an independent consulting firm, for political communication and public affairs in Rünenberg.
He is currently on the board of directors of Autobus AG Liestal AAGL (public transportation), Raiffeisen Liestal-Oberbaselbiet in Liestal, Sissach and Gelterkinden, Elektra Baselland (power supply) and ASGA Pension Funds. Besides politcom, he is a managing member of Salex GmbH. Additionally, he is a board director, member of trustees in several associations and private foundations.




Politics


De Courten was first elected into Cantonal Council of Basel-Landschaft in 2003, a position he continued to hold until 2011. During the 2011 Swiss federal election, he was elected into National Council for the Swiss People's Party, and assumed office on 5 December 2011. He is co-president of the commissions 'Municipal and Cooperations' and 'for independent weapon rights'.
He was a candidate in the 2015 Swiss Federal Council election, but was not elected. His nomination brought him the title 'self proclaimed Kennedy' by Tagesanzeiger. The seat was awarded to incumbent Guy Parmelin. In 2022, after the resignation of Ueli Maurer, he made comments that his constituency should have a seat, but he didn't seek nomination in the end.




Personal life


He has three children and resides in Rünenberg near Liestal, Switzerland.




References

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