Bern, Switzerland (GenevaLunch) - Samuel Schmid, one of Switzerland’s seven federal councilors, resigned Wednesday afternoon, citing health concerns and political pressure. Schmid, minister for Defense, Civil Protection and Sport, also noted that at age 62, after eight years as a cabinet member and a long political service to the country, the time had come to step down and spend more time with his family. Schmid has been under attack from several directions over his management of the Swiss military programme, dating back at least to the summer of 2007. His appointment to head the Swiss armed forces, Roland Nef, came under fire then because a newspaper learned that his former companion had taken him to court for using her e-mail address in responding to sex-related classified ads online.

More recently, plans to modernize the army have been hotly debated in Switzerland. And the highly publicized split in his right-wing party, the UDC, after leader Christoph Blocher was voted out of the cabinet in December 2007 added to the pressure. Schmid, who refused to step down in solidarity with Blocher’s wing of the party, became somewhat isolated and lacked strong parliamentary support.

Schmid has been treated for circulation problems since early summer, reports Le Temps, and during his resignation speech he had tears in his eyes and his voice trembled, before he had to interrupt his message because of a nose bleed. He explained that he has been taking anti-coagulants.

His resignation leaves the decision about a replacement in the hands of Parliament and the Federal Council. Schmid pointed out that according to the usual rules of “collegiality” that govern how the cabinet functions, a member of his UDC party should be named to the post.

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