Tilo Frey

Tilo Frey (2 May 1923 – 27 June 2008) ) was a Swiss politician. She was one of the first twelve women elected to the National Council in 1971 and was the first person of African descent elected to the National Council. Prior to her service at the federal level, she was a member of the municipal council of Neuchâtel and the Grand Council of Neuchâtel.

Early life and education Frey was born in Maroua, Cameroon, as the daughter of a Swiss father, Paul Frey of Brugg, and a Fula mother, Fatimatou Bibabadama. She was adopted by Katscha Frey. She attended school in Canton Neuchatel She joined the Free Democratic Party of Switzerland (FDP) and was elected into the municipal council of Neuchâtel in 1964. In a referendum of 1971, Swiss voters approved giving women the right to vote and to stand for office. Frey entered the race for the National Council in the 1971 Swiss federal election and won a seat as a member of the FDP, joining nine other women who entered the council. Media coverage at the time was heavily focused on her race during the campaign.