Councils want to step up the fight against poverty in Switzerland
Published: Thursday, Sep 26th 2024, 12:00
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Parliament wants a new national strategy to combat poverty. After the National Council, the Council of States also adopted a corresponding motion by Estelle Revaz (SP/GE) on Thursday. The Federal Council must now submit a proposal for implementation to Parliament.
The national program to prevent and combat poverty, which expires in 2024, will therefore be extended and the platform and monitoring will be financed with sufficient funds until at least 2030. The program will then be replaced by a national strategy. On Thursday, the small chamber followed the majority of its Committee for Science, Education and Culture (WBK-S), which recommended the development of a new strategy against poverty in Switzerland for approval in advance.
A conservative minority in the committee unsuccessfully requested rejection, but was defeated in the Council by 28 votes to 11 with four abstentions. The minority referred to the federal government's strained financial situation and the division of powers between the federal government and the cantons. "Legally, the lead is clearly and undisputedly with the cantons," said Jakob Stark (SVP/TG), for example.
The centrists in particular were divided on the issue: they wanted to wait for the Federal Council's evaluation, said Andrea Gmür-Schönenberger (center/LU). "It's about little money, but a big signal for a minority in our country," replied Stefan Engler (center/GR). With 745,000 people living in poverty in Switzerland, the need for action is easy to demonstrate, said Simon Stocker (SP/SH).
The Federal Council had unsuccessfully recommended that the proposal be rejected in advance. Elisabeth Baume-Schneider, Minister of Social Affairs, told the Council that there were already several issues dealing with this matter at federal level. Among other things, her department is examining the creation of a Council for Poverty Issues. The Federal Council therefore sees no reason to anticipate the ordinary handling of these matters.
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