Parties divided on payment framework for the army
Published: Wednesday, Feb 14th 2024, 18:10
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The SP and the group Switzerland Without an Army (GsoA) have opposed the Federal Council's request for a total of almost CHF 26 billion for the army from 2025 to 2028. The FDP and Mitte supported the payment framework presented by Defense Minister Viola Amherd on Wednesday as part of the 2024 Armed Forces Dispatch.
For the FDP, the strategic orientation of the army decided by the Federal Council with a focus on defense capability is a step in the right direction, as the party announced on Wednesday evening. The party stands "for a defensible army and sustainable finances".
Not only compliance with the debt brake, but also the national defense mandate is enshrined in the constitution, the FDP added. The Free Democrats see room for maneuver in terms of subsidies and tied expenditure in order to be able to meet both targets.
The center also emphasized on the X platform (formerly Twitter) that the modernization of the Swiss Armed Forces must be consistently continued. A modern and well-equipped army is key to countering the threats of the 21st century.
In the past, the Center Party has always clearly backed and supported the increase in military resources proposed by the Federal Council. "Due to the further erosion of the international security environment, the modernization of the army must be consistently continued," as the Centre Party leader Philipp Matthias Bregy (VS) is quoted as saying.
SP: Drop out completely
On Wednesday evening, the SP in turn called for the 2024 armaments program to be scrapped altogether. The Federal Council had submitted projects to Parliament that were unreasonable in terms of financial policy with the program and the payment framework for the army until 2028.
"In order to be able to demand even more money from Parliament, the impression is to be publicly conveyed that the army cannot meet its obligations, despite the massive increase in the army budget. A stop must be put to these outrageous demands, which are drying up the rest of the federal budget," the co-president of the SP parliamentary group Samuel Bendahan (NR/VD) is quoted as saying in the press release. According to the SP, the payment framework for the next four years will also have a displacement effect on other security-related tasks.
The GsoA described the Federal Council's decision on the army budget as "negligent". The Ministry of Defence DDPS must present its financial planning transparently before entering into new commitments worth billions, the organization announced. The GsoA continues to demand a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the "financial debacle" in the army.
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