Sunday, October 27, 2024
Published: Sunday, Oct 27th 2024, 06:10
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More accidents involving 125cc motorcycles, omitted meeting minutes from the federal administration and ignored warnings about shake trains: This and more can be found in the Sunday papers. The headlines in unverified reports:
"SonntagsZeitung":
Since a revision of the law, the number of accidents involving new drivers of 125cc motorcycles has almost tripled. The Federal Roads Office (Astra) recorded 580 accidents involving 16 to 18-year-olds last year, as reported by the SonntagsZeitung and Le Matin Dimanche. More than 20 percent of the drivers were seriously injured. The main reasons for the accidents were a lack of driving experience, too risky lane guidance and inattention. Since 2021, 16-year-olds have been allowed to ride motorcycles with an engine capacity of 125 cubic centimetres. Since the change in the law, annual sales of these motorcycles have practically tripled, the newspaper wrote.
"NZZ am Sonntag":
Contrary to a directive from the entire Federal Council, the search committee did not take minutes of the meetings to appoint the new State Secretary for Migration. Justice Minister Beat Jans was present at the meetings, as the "NZZ am Sonntag" wrote. The directive actually stipulates that the search committee must document its work in writing. A spokesperson justified the decision not to send a written communication to Jans by stating that the Minister of Justice took part in the talks at an early stage. According to the newspaper, the process represents a trend in the federal administration. This circumvents the law on publicity.
"SonntagsZeitung":
According to the SonntagsZeitung, the debacle surrounding the CHF 1.9 billion procurement of the double-decker long-distance trains known as "Schüttelzüge" could have been avoided. At the beginning of 2014, an expert appointed by SBB recommended pulling out of the procurement and preparing alternatives in good time, as the newspaper wrote. He stated in an internal report that the project was likely to fail. The rail company's group management had ignored the early warnings and failed to inform the board of directors. However, the Group management had not ruled out a project failure. However, a withdrawal was out of the question due to the threat of high compensation claims from train manufacturer Bombardier.
"SonntagsZeitung" / "Le Matin Dimanche":
Valais SVP National Councillor Jean-Luc Addor will travel to the USA as an election observer. He received the assignment because he is a member of the parliamentary assembly of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, as reported by the SonntagsZeitung and Le Matin Dimanche. Addor will inspect polling stations in the US state of Nevada. According to the Valaisan, it is impossible for election observers to check everything. In 18 states, the use of international observers is prohibited or restricted by law. Four years ago, Addor declared himself a Trump supporter, the newspapers wrote. "As an election observer, I am neutral," he said.
"NZZ am Sonntag":
The number of Swiss companies benefiting from discounted electricity has risen steadily in recent years. 253 companies were recently exempt from the so-called grid surcharge for the promotion of solar, hydro and wind power plants, as the "NZZ am Sonntag" wrote based on data from the Swiss Federal Office of Energy. The original idea behind the exemption was to support the electricity-intensive and export-oriented industry. Other sectors, such as ski resorts and wellness facilities, have long since benefited from this, the newspaper wrote. Industry and middle-class politicians are pushing for even more relief.
"NZZ am Sonntag":
Despite the recent drop in demand, a report has predicted a positive future for electric cars. In the worst-case scenario, the market share of electric cars will be 80 percent by 2040, according to a report by consulting firm EBP in the NZZ am Sonntag. If European policy tightens the screws as planned, the market share of electric vehicles will reach almost 100 percent by 2040. By 2050, there will be virtually no fossil-fuel cars on the road. According to EBP, one of the reasons for the upswing is that electric cars are quieter and cheaper over their lifetime.
"SonntagsZeitung" / "SonntagsBlick":
Serge Gaillard has defended his expert commission's proposal to reduce the tax advantages of second and third pillar payouts. In an interview with the SonntagsZeitung newspaper, Gaillard said that there would still be an advantage if the reform were implemented. Due to a lower income in old age, the tax rate is lower than the one you had during your working life. It is still worth paying into the second and third pillars in the "normal framework", he said. Tax-optimized pension purchases at the age of 50 or 55 would become less attractive. "There is no final decision yet," said FDP party president Thierry Burkart to SonntagsBlick. He announced a referendum should the proposal pass through parliament.
"SonntagsBlick":
The federal commissioner for the labor market integration of refugees from Ukraine has held companies accountable. The Federal Council has created medium-term planning security, said Adrian Gerber in an interview with "SonntagsBlick". The government had extended the protection status and enabled continued employment for an additional year. Gerber denied that the target employment rate of 40 percent by the end of the year was symbolic politics. First and foremost, cantons, municipalities, companies and the people from Ukraine would have to participate. "The federal government can provide support."
"SonntagsBlick":
New statutes are to be approved at the Swiss Animal Protection Association's delegates' meeting in March 2025. They provide for significant changes to the association's structure, as "SonntagsBlick" learned from a draft. For example, the board is to be reduced in size and its term of office limited. The regional associations will discuss the changes behind closed doors in three weeks' time. The presidium is also to be replaced at the delegates' meeting. Law professor Peter Kunz has expressed an interest. However, it remains to be seen whether he will actually stand as a candidate, as SonntagsBlick reported.
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