–
Bern – The federal government can use a further CHF 3.4 billion for short-time work compensation, hardship aid and the Corona loss of earnings. As a second council, the Council of States approved three supplementary credits on Thursday. Both councils also want additional federal funds for protection against wolves.
The small chamber approved the additional loans for corona aid without opposition. In the winter session, the Federal Parliament decided to extend the relevant provisions of the Covid 19 Act until the end of the current year. Due to time constraints, the funds required for this could no longer be discussed as part of the normal budget debate.
The Federal Council had passed the corresponding special message on the 2022 estimate at the beginning of December. 1.7 billion francs are for the Corona loss of earnings, 900 million francs for the federal share of hardship assistance and 800 million francs for the federal contribution to unemployment insurance for short-time work compensation.
With its decision, the Council of States followed the proposal of its Finance Commission (FK-S). There was no counter-motion. According to current knowledge, the credits would probably not be exhausted, said Commission spokeswoman Johanna Gapany (FDP/FR). The National Council had approved the Corona supplementary credits on Monday.
This increases the approved corona expenditure in the current year to CHF 7.2 billion. In 2020 and 2021, the federal government has already spent around 30 billion francs to deal with the corona pandemic.
100 million for corona drugs
In addition, the Council of States wants to make CHF 100 million available for the current year for the procurement of drugs against Covid-19, which will benefit people with weakened immune systems. The National Council has not yet commented on this point.
Finance Minister Ueli Maurer unsuccessfully asked the Council to refrain from creating the difference. He pointed out that there was enough time to approve the funds during the regular budget consultation.
Like the Grand Chamber before it, the Council of States also said yes to an additional loan of CHF 11 million for the completion of buildings at ETH Zurich. However, Olivier Français (FDP/VD) said that it was incomprehensible that the project was being awarded to a general contractor who did not bear the risks of construction defects themselves. There had already been broad criticism of the management of the ETH building projects in the National Council.
Confederation supports livestock protection more
Both councils also want to give farmers more support in protecting themselves from wolves. The National Council had approved an additional CHF 5.7 million for this, and the Council of States agreed with this decision with no dissenting votes.
Herd protection is associated with great effort for animal owners, Stefan Engler (middle / GR) campaigned for the issue. Beat Rieder (Mitte/VS) emphasized that the Finance Commission, which had rejected the proposal, had not been correctly informed about the matter. Contrary to what was originally claimed, there is indeed a legal basis for additional aid. Rieder spoke of a signal to those affected.
The business goes back to the National Council. (awp/mc/ps)
–
