At 91, Switzerland's oldest politician is full of life

At 91, she's the oldest elected politician in Switzerland: Marlies Näf-Hofma from Arbon in canton Thurgau. And she's still going strong. Swiss Public Television, SRF looks back at an often controversial political career. (SRF/swissinfo.ch)

She represents the Christian Democratic Party in the Arbon city parliamentexternal link, where she campaigns on behalf of the elderly, in particular. But she has changed her political allegiances several times.

For 20 years, Näf-Hofmaexternal link worked as a lawyer for the the right-wing conservative Swiss People's Party on the cantonal council of Thurgau, and was party member for 50 years. After a brief stint with the Green Liberals, the lawyer joined the city parliament two years ago as a non-party member. In summer 2017, she officially changed to the Christian Democratic Party.

'Sharp as a whistle'

Her pet subjects are accessibility of public transport and day care centres for people with dementia. She is described as persistent, passionate and quite uncompromising.

Her voice is strong, and the former lawyer is said to be 'sharp as a whistle'. She keeps fit at the gym. Since her husband died of Parkinson's disease in 2008, Näf-Hofma has devoted herself to politics. She gets support in her work from her son Andreas.

Arbonexternal link on the southwest coast of Lake Constance is the third-largest city in the canton, after Frauenfeld and Kreuzlingen, with a population of around 14,500.