Climate National Council rejects national tax on million-euro inheritances
The National Council does not want to tax inheritances worth millions in favor of climate protection. On Tuesday, it rejected a Juso popular initiative that had already caused a stir before the Council debates. The National Council also does not want a counter-proposal.
18.03.2025, 12:41
18.03.2025, 12:48
SDA
On Tuesday, the National Council voted against the popular initiative "For a social climate policy - fairly financed through taxation (Initiative for a future)" by 132 votes to 49, with eight abstentions. The bourgeois majority in the Council also refused to accept the left's proposals for direct counter-proposals.
The initiative calls for a 50 percent tax on estates and gifts of more than CHF 50 million. The revenue should be invested in climate protection. Companies fear that such a high tax would make succession in family businesses more difficult or impossible.
If companies had to pay the tax, this could lead to the break-up of companies and therefore to job losses, argued the opponents. In addition, according to the conservative voices, there would be "drastic" tax losses because wealthy people would leave the country. The middle classes would have to bear the consequences.
Proponents argued that the richest would have to pay for the damage to the climate and environment. Doing nothing about climate change would cost money. Switzerland is already feeling the consequences of global warming.
The National Council reached its decisions after around six hours of debate. Around fifty speakers expressed their views on the initiative. Now it's the Council of States' turn.
