Council of States sinks fund for the appreciation of the Federal Constitution
Published: Wednesday, Mar 13th 2024, 11:40
Updated At: Wednesday, Mar 13th 2024, 11:40
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There will be no fund for democracy and the rule of law in Switzerland to commemorate the first Federal Constitution of 1848. The Council of States rejected a motion to create such a fund for financial reasons, among others.
On Wednesday, the Council of States rejected a motion from its State Policy Committee (SPK-S) to create such a fund by 25 votes to 16 with one abstention. The motion has therefore been dealt with and will not go to the National Council.
The decision of the Council of States is rather surprising, as the SPK-S decided to table the motion in November 2023 by 7 votes to 0 with one abstention. With its decision, the small chamber followed a request from Thurgau SVP Council of States member Jakob Stark.
It is good and right to talk about the Federal Constitution, said Stark in the Council. However, as President of the Council of States Finance Committee, he also had to say that Parliament should reject new, unnecessary expenditure. Such a fund would be "nice to have".
The Federal Council also requested rejection. The idea was to be welcomed. However, the national government also pointed out the tight financial situation and said that there are already numerous local, regional and national initiatives to promote understanding of democratic processes in Switzerland.
The SPK-S also wanted to use the fund to improve cohesion in the country. The fund would have promoted knowledge and use of the national languages. The target audience for the activities would have been young people in particular.
Proposal for public holiday already failed
The background to the motion was the 175th anniversary of the first Federal Constitution of 1848, which was celebrated last year. A motion was submitted to the National Council, the author of which wanted September 12 to be declared a public holiday.
On this day in 1848, the Diet declared the first Federal Constitution adopted and in force. The old Confederation thus became the modern federal state.
However, the Council of States rejected the proposal from the National Council, whereupon its State Policy Committee came up with the idea of commemorating the first Federal Constitution with a fund instead of a public holiday.
The fund was to be managed by a committee of five to a maximum of nine people, independent of parliament and the administration, each of whom would have been elected by the Federal Council for a term of four years.
Something for CH Foundation?
Federal Councillor Beat Jans outlined an alternative to the creation of the fund in the Council on Wednesday: he suggested that the CH Foundation should take up the idea.
This foundation for federal cooperation was established in 1967 and is supported by all 26 cantons. Since its establishment, it has been committed to the further development of federalism, understanding and internal cohesion in Switzerland.
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