It was the last SRF “arena” before the summer break. Moderator Sandro Brotz joked cheerfully before the start of the broadcast – the relief was evident. Relief that concrete political business can now be discussed in the usual “arena” manner. And maybe also that he can go on a well-deserved vacation after the rather exhausting last few weeks. But he also did a lot of things again in the last show.
Switzerland expects a monster voting Sunday in around three months. Because of the corona crisis and the postponed May vote, the Swiss voters on September 27 must determine five templates that would be there:
- Limit initiative
- Hunting law
- Paternity leave
- Increase child deductions
- Fighter jet procurement
Together with the party presidents and the presidents of the largest parties, Brotz wanted to launch the voting campaign. Except for a themed block, the elephant tour did not really get going. Which could either be due to the politicians who were ready to go on vacation or the time limits for each individual initiative. The studio guests had just 13 minutes to debate each individual initiative. Not exactly a lot, considering how subjectively everyone present interprets the “last sentence” moderation instruction. But surprisingly, the parliamentarians adhered extremely well to the time limit.
Limit initiative
First, the lot fell on the limitation initiative. Launched by the SVP, the initiative aims to ensure that Switzerland alone can determine immigration from EU countries. If it is accepted, the free movement of persons for foreign nationals from the EU area should be abolished. Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter also described it as the “most important vote of the year”.
SVP party president Albert Rösti is relaxed – even though he is the only one of the group to support the initiative. His party is the only one that thinks of older workers who find it increasingly difficult to find a job. “It cannot be that young foreigners from the EU countries take the job away from older people from Switzerland,” said the tenor.
Andrea Gmür-Schönenberger is less relaxed. As the parliamentary group president of the new middle parliamentary group, the CVP councilor stands for the prevented Gerhard Pfister in the ring – and brings a refreshing breeze to the group. “The initiative is extremely dangerous,” she countered Rösti’s serenity. “What would we have done in nursing or agriculture during the corona crisis without the workers from abroad?” The free movement of people has already been regulated and should under no circumstances be touched. FDP party president Petra Gössi Gmür agrees in her usual stoic way. “Without the bilateral treaties, trade with the EU would be extremely difficult. If we no longer have the bilateral agreements, we will lose. »
Hunting law
Even before Rösti’s serenity could give way, the next vote follows: The Hunting Act. If accepted, new rules should apply when dealing with protected wild animals such as the wolf. The cantons should then decide which animals can be released for hunting as a precaution – even before they cause any damage.
In the hunting law, Rösti is no longer alone in the field. The template is also supported by Gössi and Gmür. As a city dweller, she doesn’t see the problem with the wolf at all and would probably react differently if a wolf were suddenly in her garden, says Gmür. But that is precisely why the cantons have to be given more competencies. “We have to take the mountain cantons seriously with their problems.”
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SP President Christian Levrat intervenes with a serious expression: “The wolf will not stick to the canton’s borders. It is a shooting law. » Levrat is backed by GLP President Jürg Grossen. The wolf is not a danger to the population and the regulation of preventive shooting is wrong. “That would mean that you could shoot the wolf only if he looked at it at an angle.”
After the second round, the politicians seem to be getting warm. With the next two upcoming votes – paternity leave and an increase in child deductions – the discussion slowly gets going.
Paternity leave
The newly elected party leader of the Greens, Balthasar Glättli, describes the compromise of the two weeks of paternity leave as “pithy”, but it is better than nothing in any case. Christian Levrat would also like to have more. “We would have been on parental leave together. This is a small step in the right direction, »said the SP party president. Now Albert Rösti bursts his collar. «The Pandora’s box is just opened here. You always want more. But who pays for it in the end? The state cannot step in for everyone! »
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Increase child deductions
The state should also step into the breach when it comes to presenting increased child deductions. If the proposed change in the law is accepted, the general child deduction and the amount for external child care, which can be deducted from federal taxes, should be increased. Conversely, this means that families who have to pay federal taxes can benefit from tax relief.
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“I advise everyone to look very carefully at their tax returns.”
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This proposal is a thorn in the side of the left parties. So Christian Levrat also railed against it. “Only those who make more than CHF 300,000 a year in a family with two earners can deduct the full amounts. The rest is empty. Is this really family policy? »
Again it is Gmür who crosses the blades with vehemence and clear statements with Levrat. “We support the families here who do not receive any premium reductions, no grants, no access to cooperative housing. It is only fair to do something for small and medium-sized companies, ”said the parliamentary group president of the middle group. Rösti, who previously raged about rising government spending, is now giving the green light and describes the change in law as a “wonderful template”.
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“Families can benefit.”
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Fighter jets
A no less emotionally charged topic is the procurement of fighter jets. The Swiss electorate must also decide on this on September 27. VBS boss Viola Amherd plans to spend six billion francs on the purchase of the new fighter jets. The Greens President Balthasar Glättli can only shake his head. “Here you are preparing for yesterday’s war instead of the dangers of tomorrow,” he says wisely. GLP President Jürg Grossen speaks out cautiously for the submission. The costs are “affordable”, says Grossen.
Petra Gössi also thinks the fighter jets are a good thing and directly attacks Levrat. The SP is only against the submission, because one actually still has the abolition of the army in the party program. “Not at all,” countered Levrat. «We simply saw that no luxury jet can help us in the fight against the currently greatest dangers. Cyberwar, terrorism, global warming, pandemic, would you tell me how expensive fighter jets can help us here? »
Middle Group President Gmür dares to explain. «The most important thing is the security of the population. The FA-18 and Tiger will be discarded by 2030. To guarantee air protection until then, we have to adapt it now so that we will be ready in ten years. » Gmür concludes that she would also like to have something that would be cheaper, but trust Federal Councilor Amherd and her advisors. Rösti nods and says shortly before the 13-minute countdown ends: “We have to provide the necessary means for the security of our country.”
In the thematically packed program there is not even time left for the usual casual final round. Moderator Sandro Brotz says goodbye to the summer vacation and promises: “We will be back on August 21, of course with five separate programs for the voting marathon at the end of September.”
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