'%20id='ico-down'%20stroke='%23000000'%20stroke-width='1.5'%3e%3cg%20transform='translate(1092.250000,%20254.750000)'%3e%3cpolyline%20id='Path-2-Copy-4'%20transform='translate(5.500000,%202.750000)%20scale(1,%20-1)%20rotate(-180.000000)%20translate(-5.500000,%20-2.750000)%20'%20points='0%200%205.5%205.5%2011%200'%3e%3c/polyline%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/g%3e%3c/svg%3e){kind=small}
The 51-year-old, a finance expert and a member of the nationalist- conservative Swiss Peoples Party (SVP), will replace fellow party member and controversial populist politician Blocher, who failed to be selected for the Federal Council in a vote Wednesday.
Widmer-Schlumpf had asked to be allowed to consider her decision until Thursday morning after being nominated in place of her colleague on Wednesday.
Blocher had previously served as justice minister and stirred controversy with his hard-line views on foreigners and asylum- seekers. dpa