Marriage Penalty Initiative Narrowly Defeated in National Council
Bern, Switzerland – The Swiss National Council today rejected a motion to abolish the marriage penalty in federal tax law, voting 99 to 97 against the initiative proposed by centrist and right-wing parties. The closely contested vote followed an emotionally charged debate, highlighting deep divisions within the parliament regarding fairness in the tax system and the value of traditional family structures.
The “marriage penalty” arises from Switzerland’s individual taxation system, where married couples can sometimes pay more tax than two single individuals with the same combined income. Abolishing it has been a long-standing goal of conservative groups who argue it unfairly disadvantages married couples. While the initiative failed to pass, the narrow margin signals continued pressure for tax reform and the potential for future attempts to address the issue.
The initiative was spearheaded by The Center party and the Swiss People’s party (SVP). Opponents, including the Social Democratic Party (SP) and the Green Party, argued that eliminating the marriage penalty would disproportionately benefit higher-income earners and undermine the progressive nature of the tax system.
During the debate, SVP National Councillor Esther Friedli passionately defended the initiative, stating that the current system “punishes” marriage and creates financial disincentives for couples. Conversely, SP National councillor samira Marti countered that the initiative would exacerbate existing inequalities and provide a tax break to those who need it least.
The outcome leaves the current tax system unchanged. The federal government estimates that abolishing the marriage penalty would cost the state approximately CHF 800 million annually. The debate is expected to continue at the cantonal level, where some cantons have already taken steps to mitigate the marriage penalty within their own tax frameworks.
Quentin Schlapbach, a correspondent in the Bundeshaus for Tagesanzeiger, reports he is a board member of Lobbywatch, a non-profit association committed to transparency in Swiss politics. readers can report errors to tagesleitung.korrektorat@tamedia.ch.
