National Council sets its own priorities in legislative planning
Published: Wednesday, Apr 17th 2024, 09:40
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The National Council wants to give the Federal Council additional tasks for the current legislature. It has added dozens of goals and measures to the 2023-2027 legislative planning. How binding the guidelines are is controversial.
The National Council debated the political agenda until the end of 2027 for over seven hours on Tuesday. As the voting system was down, numerous motions could only be decided on Wednesday morning.
In the vast majority of points, the Grand Chamber followed the advice of its Legislative Planning Committee (LPK-N). The LPK-N had pointed out in advance that, in principle, it supported the goals that the Federal Council had set itself for the current legislative period.
"Don't expect too much"
In addition to relations with the EU, finances and climate protection, the Federal Council's dispatch focuses on new challenges such as artificial intelligence, crisis management, energy supply and the reconstruction of Ukraine.
According to the Federal Council, the aim of legislative planning is to provide a framework for orientation. The planning is the basis for setting priorities in the administration. At the same time, it is intended to ensure coherence in legislation and the work of the administration. Completed, unfinished and unplanned measures are reported in the Federal Council's annual report. The planning instrument has no further consequences.
"We should not expect too much, but also not too little," said Center President Gerhard Pfister (ZG) at the start of the debate. Parliament had already approved legislative plans on several occasions and then decided the opposite in the following months and years.
Speed in climate protection
Nevertheless, the National Council discussed the legislative planning at length. The Federal Council's four guidelines on the topics of prosperity, cohesion, security and climate were ultimately supported and numerous points were added to the list of associated goals and measures.
For example, parliamentary group spokespersons called the Federal Council's plan "modest but realistic", "ambitious" and "worthy of support". The SVP was the most critical. In their view, the strategy paper is too extensive and too comprehensive, and it misses the reality of the population's lives, as spokesperson Roman Hug (GR) said. The planned links to foreign institutions would lead to "more loss of neutrality and independence".
The left wing of the Council, on the other hand, called for a stronger commitment to climate issues. "When it comes to environmental issues, we need to step it up a notch, if not two or three," said Felix Wettstein (Greens/SO). Céline Widmer (SP/ZH) also called for more bite following last week's ruling by the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Melanie Mettler (GLP/BE) also called for a "faster pace" in climate protection.
Mandate for financial transaction tax
For example, the National Council called on the Federal Council to draw up a biodiversity action plan. This should include a review of subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity. The government should also draw up an energy efficiency strategy.
In terms of security and peace policy, the Grand Chamber is calling on the Federal Council to adopt a separate Ukraine Strategy 2024-2027. The Grand Chamber also wants additional measures to be taken with regard to pension provision and social welfare objectives. For example, the AHV pension cap for married couples should be abolished and the social protection system for cultural workers should be expanded.
The National Council also believes that the Federal Council should adopt a dispatch on the introduction of a financial transaction tax to finance the AHV by 2027. The large chamber is also in favor of swiftly concluding the negotiations with the EU. A great deal of importance should be attached to balancing domestic political interests right from the negotiation stage.
The Council of States will discuss the 2023-2027 legislative planning in the summer session.
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