(AWP / SDA) The National Council continued its budget discussions on Wednesday. There were still five major differences with the Council of States and relatively small amounts. But these amounts are now being disputed.
500,000 francs were the main topic of conversation in the National Council early in the morning. The Federal Council earmarked CHF 1.13 million for the budget item for child protection and children’s rights. The National Council wanted to increase this amount to CHF 2 million, but the Council of States wanted to increase this to CHF 1.5 million as a compromise.
With 118 votes to 72, with one abstention, a majority in the National Council decided that the higher amount should be retained.
The National Council has joined the Council of States for direct payments for agriculture. The National Council originally increased the budget item by CHF 16.8 million to CHF 2.81 billion. The National Council wanted to keep farmers’ incomes stable compared to 2020.
In the Council of States a solution finally prevailed that provides for an almost identical increase to CHF 2.812 billion. In contrast to the National Council’s solution, however, this loan does not include any funds for herd protection. The National Council now joined the version of the Council of States.
For the promotion of environmental technologies from 2019 to 2023 there is a previously approved commitment loan of CHF 22 million. The Federal Council and the Council of States wanted to leave the loan as it is, the National Council an increase of CHF 3 million. increase the funds by a million. The decision was made with 136 votes to 55 with one abstention.
Funds for research and ETH still open
When the funds for ETH and research were increased by CHF 1.5 million, the Council of States deliberately created a difference in order to be able to properly discuss it. In the National Council, the preliminary deliberations of the responsible commissions with short-term individual proposals were skipped. The relevant embassy has not yet been discussed to the end. With the difference, the commissions can deal again with the credits. Accordingly, the National Council stuck to its proposal.
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