Pfister criticizes the Federal Council’s approach to the savings discussion
Published: Sunday, Sep 15th 2024, 12:30
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Center President Gerhard Pfister has criticized the Federal Council's approach following the publication of the expert report on austerity measures in the federal budget. The experts' proposals could not simply be used as a basis for discussion.
At the beginning of the week, the Federal Council organized round tables with the parties and social partners to discuss the austerity measures drawn up by a group of experts led by the former head of the Federal Finance Administration, Serge Gaillard. In an interview with the newspaper "Le Matin Dimanche", Pfister said that he did not feel comfortable at all.
Their presence alone gave the impression that they agreed with the report. The Federal Council's aim was probably to convey an image of unity behind the proposals. However, these were highly political. The document could therefore not simply be used as a basis for discussion. The dialog must be conducted at a political level with the Federal Council.
"One-sided report"
Pfister also criticized the report itself as one-sided. In his opinion, the task of the group of experts should have been to propose additional revenue as well as savings. However, 90 percent of the report revolved around savings measures.
In terms of additional revenue, the experts only mentioned the reduction of certain subsidies for companies. However, new revenue should also have been discussed, particularly through taxes.
Pragmatic debt brake
As far as the debt brake is concerned, Pfister is not prepared to abandon it. However, we need to move away from the dogmatic view and apply it more pragmatically.
If the government spent CHF 30 billion during the Covid-19 pandemic and was able to take a risk of CHF 250 billion to save Credit Suisse, it is not credible if it now explains to the population that a few hundred million is missing from the budget, criticizes the centrist president.
©Keystone/SDA
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