Sun, Mar 3rd 2024
Trade unions and left-wing factions champion the initiative for a 13th AHV pension, aiming for a historic expansion by 2026. Polls show a strong public backing, despite financing concerns.
The popular initiative for a 13th AHV pension is likely to receive a Yes vote. According to the SRG-SSR trend calculation, the popular initiative will be accepted by the people and probably also by the cantons.
Trade unions and left-wing parties are behind the popular initiative. It calls for thirteen AHV pensions to be paid from 2026 instead of twelve.
Despite losses in recent weeks, the supporters’ camp has always been larger than that of the opponents in the polls. In the SRG survey from mid-February, the initiative would have achieved a popular majority with 53% in favour.
The survey by “20 Minuten”/Tamedia came to 59% in favour. However, the majority of the cantons for the 13th AHV pension was not certain.
All retirees would be entitled to a supplement amounting to one twelfth of their annual pension, which would be 8.3% higher than today. Anyone already drawing an AHV pension would receive the supplement from the start of 2026 at the latest.
The Federal Council and Parliament will now have to think about how the “thirteenth” in the AHV is to be financed. Opinions differ as to what will be necessary.
The proponents believe that the 13th AHV pension can be paid until around 2030 without additional funding. After that, salary contributions of 0.4% each for employees and employers would be sufficient to pay the higher pensions.
Opponents – and with them the Federal Council – believe that additional funding is not so simple. The 13th AHV pension would have to be financed through higher salary contributions, an increase in VAT or tax revenue.
The Federal Council claimed that the increase in AHV pensions would already cost an additional CHF 4.1 billion in the year of introduction. Around five years later, it would already cost CHF 5 billion due to the rising number of pensioners.
The Yes vote would be historic: never before has a popular initiative been used to approve an expansion of the AHV. The referendum campaign was emotional. Every vote was fought for until the very end.
Basel-Landschaft: 50 of the 86 municipalities have been counted – 61.1% for Yes.
Lucerne: 59 of the 80 municipalities have been counted – 53.45% for No.
Basel-Stadt: 64.4% of postal voters say yes. 90% of votes in Basel-Stadt are postal.
Solothurn: After counting in 51 of 106 municipalities, the Yes vote is 58%.
Aargau: After counting in 188 of 197 municipalities, the proportion of Yes votes is 52.69%.
Zurich: The first projection by the statistical office of the canton of Zurich predicts a 56.6% Yes vote.
Graubünden: After counting 87 of the 101 municipalities 51.67% vote Yes.
©Keystone/SDA
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