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According to the Council of States, this is a sympathetic cause: submission of signatures for the Service Citoyen Initiative. (archive picture)
Keystone
With the Council of States' no vote on Wednesday, Parliament has rejected the Service Citoyen initiative to create a citizens' service for all. The bill is ready for the final vote on Friday. It will be put to the people without a counter-proposal.
During the debate, the Council of States welcomed the initiative and was able to see various advantages to it. Nevertheless, it rejected the initiative by 34 votes to 9. Concerns about the army and civil defense prevailed. Perhaps the time was not yet ripe for a service for all, summarized various members of the Council.
Federal Councillor and Defense Minister Martin Pfister said during his first appearance in the small chamber that compulsory service for men and women would lead to around 70,000 conscripts per year. About half that number would be needed for the army and civil defense.
The question arises as to how the others would be employed. This could lead to conflicts with the ban on forced labor and economic neutrality. In addition, the economy would be deprived of many workers at the same time.
18.06.2025, 13:41
