Michele Bachmann becomes a Swiss citizen

Michele Bachmann claims Swiss citizenship. But why?

ByABC News
May 9, 2012, 2:07 AM

May 9, 2012— -- Michele Bachmann is now a Swiss citizen.

The Minnesota congresswoman and former Republican presidential candidate was recently granted dual citizenship, Bachmann's office confirmed Tuesday night, according to CNN.

"Congresswoman Bachmann's husband is of Swiss descent so she has been eligible for dual-citizenship since they got married in 1978," spokeswoman Becky Rogness said in a statement. "However, recently some of their children wanted to exercise their eligibility for dual-citizenship so they went through the process as a family."

And, according to an interview with Swiss TV, Bachmann, who is currently seeking a fourth term in Congress after her failed bid for the White House, is now also eligible to run for office in the tiny European country.

Asked if she'd be interested in seeking office in Switzerland, Bachmann joked that "there's a lot of competition ... and they're very good."