Michele Bachmann becomes a Swiss citizen

By Joel Roberts

May 9, 2012

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., tears a page from the national health care bill during a press conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 21, 2012 in Washington. (Win McNamee/Getty Images)

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.

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., tears a page... View Full Size

Win McNamee/Getty Images

Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., tears a page from the national health care bill during a press conference on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, March 21, 2012 in Washington.

"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."