War material Left and Greens do not want any exceptions to the rules on arms exports

Opinions are once again divided on the rules for arms exports. The conservatives want to give the Federal Council more leeway when it comes to approving arms exports. The left and the Greens criticize this in the consultation on the amendment to the War Material Act.

The Federal Council wants an amendment to the law that would allow it to deviate from established licensing criteria in exceptional circumstances if foreign or security policy interests so require.

The Greens and SP are against any relaxation of the rules on war material exports. They criticize the fact that the removal of this authority to deviate from the counter-proposal three years ago was a mandatory prerequisite for the withdrawal of the corrective initiative.

The proponents, the FDP and SVP, argue that the arms industry is of great importance to national defense and to safeguarding these jobs. The centrists support the amendment against the backdrop of the war in Ukraine.