Bachmann withdraws her Swiss citizenship

MINNEAPOLIS – U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann ended her Swiss citizenship less than diplomatically Thursday, saying she was giving it up to prove she is a “proud American citizen.”

The Minnesota Republican said Thursday that she had written to the Swiss Consulate asking to withdraw her citizenship just two days after it was first reported that she had taken steps to affirm it. Bachmann had drawn flak from critics who noted that Switzerland has universal health care, something Bachmann vigorously opposes.

Bachmann’s move came two days after Swiss TV broke the news that she had registered for Swiss citizenship, which she initially dismissed as a “nonstory.” By Wednesday, her office was scrambling to clarify how she had acquired Swiss citizenship.

Bachmann spokeswoman Becky Rogness initially said Bachmann had been eligible for it because her husband, Marcus, was of Swiss descent, and that the family recently went through the process together because some of their children wanted to do it. Bachmann issued a statement later Wednesday saying her dual citizenship had been automatic upon her marriage in 1978.