Federal finances Army to receive an additional half a million francs in 2025
The armed forces will receive an additional CHF 530 million next year. This is clear following the Council of States' decisions on the federal budget on Monday. The controversial issue is how much will be saved in foreign aid for the army.
09.12.2024, 18:14
SDA
Without opposition, the Council of States said yes to the corresponding increase proposal including compensation. However, it is still unclear how the higher expenditure is to be compensated for. This is because the Council of States wants to make far fewer cuts in foreign aid than the National Council, but wants to make cuts in other areas.
The Council of States wants to reduce spending on bilateral development cooperation and economic cooperation by a total of CHF 30 million. Last week, the National Council decided to cut CHF 250 million from foreign aid. This also gave rise to discussion in the Council of States.
Esther Friedli (SVP/SG) requested a cut of CHF 100 million. Werner Salzmann (SVP/BE), like the National Council, wanted to cut CHF 250 million from foreign aid. These proposals failed, as did the request to increase spending on the army faster than the majority wanted.
The CHF 30 million cut in foreign aid is part of a package of CHF 346 million that addresses various areas. This concept is a compromise, said Beat Rieder (center/VS). Mathias Zopfi (Greens/GL) also warned that the rearmament of the army must be approached with prudence.
Pascal Broulis (FDP/VD) said that it would be untrustworthy for Switzerland to withdraw from international commitments by cutting back more. Development aid also contributes to security, added Peter Hegglin (Center/ZG). "Do we want a Switzerland First policy, without consideration?" asked Isabelle Chassot (center/FR).
Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter said that much of the concept was included in the planned savings package. Accordingly, these items could no longer be included at a later date.
The financing issue has not been resolved with the Council of States, as the National Council now has to decide on the concept again. In the area of asylum, for example, the Council of States cut CHF 185 million. The National Council only wanted to cut CHF 105 million here because it decided to make fewer cuts to social assistance for asylum seekers than the Council of States.
The Council of States wants to spend CHF 31 million less on civil buildings - the National Council did not decide to make this cut. And the Council of States wants to spend CHF 10 million less on contributions to daycare centers than the Federal Council. The National Council, on the other hand, decided on an increase of CHF 6.9 million.
