National Council wants to keep space company in federal ownership
Published: Monday, Sep 16th 2024, 17:20
Volver a Live Feed
The National Council wants to prevent the sale of the Swiss space company Beyond Gravity. On Monday, it adopted a motion to this effect by 121 votes to 53.
The Grand Chamber is thus calling on the Federal Council to reconsider its decision to sell Beyond Gravity. Beyond Gravity is a subsidiary of Ruag International that specializes in space travel. The motion was submitted by the National Council's Security Policy Committee (SIK-N).
Selling the company would be a "major strategic mistake", said National Councillor Michael Götte (SVP/SG), spokesperson for the committee. The committee also argued, based on the federal government's "Space Policy 2023", that the sale of the company contradicted the interests of the country and the strategy pursued by the Department of Defense.
The Confederation would be divesting itself of the fourth-largest player in the European space industry, thereby relinquishing a lever of industrial influence in connection with security, the report continued.
"Not relevant in terms of security policy"
According to the Federal Council's response to the motion, there was no justification for the Confederation to acquire a stake in the company. The Federal Council requested that the motion be rejected.
Beyond Gravity only manufactures components for satellites and rockets and is not relevant in terms of security policy, said Federal Councillor Karin Keller-Sutter, who, as head of the Federal Department of Finance (FDF), represented the Federal Council's position in the Council Chamber.
The company generates 0.1 percent - around CHF 200,000 - with the Swiss Armed Forces. There is no public interest for the Confederation to continue to participate in Beyond Gravity. According to the Finance Minister, the Confederation would have to invest in this company. She spoke of 500 to 600 million francs. According to Keller-Sutter, the Confederation does not have the means to inject these millions.
The National Council dealt with the matter as the first chamber. With the adoption of the motion, the proposal will now be referred to the Council of States.
©Keystone/SDA
Spanish 
English 
German 
French 
Arabic