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Kaspar Villiger was born in Pfeffikon, in the Canton of Lucerne, on 5 February 1941, the son of the cigar manufacturer Villiger. He studied mechanical engineering at the Federal Institute of Technology in Zurich and took over the management of the cigar factory, Villiger und Söhne AG, after the death of his father in 1966. In 1972 his political career began with his election to the Grosser Rat, the Cantonal Parliament of Lucerne. In 1987 he was elected to the Council of States. Just two years later, he was elected as an FDP deputy to the Federal Council. He continued to serve as such until he stood down in 2003. Since March 2009, Villiger has been Chairman of the Board of Directors of the major Swiss bank, UBS.
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