Climate National Council debates the Juso inheritance tax initiative
The National Council has taken up the debate on the question of whether million-euro inheritances should be taxed in future to benefit the climate. The reason for this is the Juso's Future Initiative, which had already triggered an unusual amount of criticism before the Council debates.
05.03.2025, 15:03
SDA
The National Council reserved Wednesday afternoon and two other days for the popular initiative "For a social climate policy - fairly financed through taxation (Initiative for a Future)". Over sixty individual speakers want to speak. According to Council President Maja Riniker (FDP/AG), seven hours of debate lie ahead.
The initiative calls for a 50 percent tax on estates and donations of more than CHF 50 million. The revenue should be invested in climate protection. Companies fear that the high tax would make succession in family businesses more difficult or impossible.
The initiative was not well received by the Committee for Economic Affairs and Taxation (WAK-N). It voted against by a clear majority and does not want a counter-proposal. The initiative has "potentially massive negative consequences for the Swiss economy and public finances", wrote the committee.
The opposition has already formed: Representatives from five parliamentary groups and the business community are warning of high tax losses if the initiative is voted in favor. The Federal Council also rejects the initiative. The opponents claim that entrepreneurs and the very rich would leave Switzerland.
The SP and the Greens are supporters of the initiative. Their representatives have submitted several proposals for a counter-proposal for a future tax anchored in the constitution. The proposal calls for wealth and inheritance taxes on natural persons in favor of climate protection.
