National Council says yes to the 2025 federal budget after marathon debate
Published: Thursday, Dec 5th 2024, 12:20
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After twelve hours of deliberation over three days, the conservative majority in the National Council approved the federal budget for next year on Thursday. This provides for significant additional expenditure for the army - at the expense of foreign aid and federal personnel.
The upper chamber approved the 2025 budget by 120 votes to 73. The SVP, FDP and Center Party voted yes. The SP, Greens and GLP refused to vote in favor because their motions had all failed during the three-day deliberations.
The National Council drew up the budget based on the preparatory work of its Finance Committee. There were no surprises. Only three minority motions and two individual motions - most of which concerned details - were successful.
Dispute over development funds
Compared to the Federal Council's draft, this resulted in additional expenditure of around half a billion francs for the army. In addition, contrary to the Federal Council's opinion, direct payments for farmers are not to be reduced.
The army upgrade is to be offset in particular by a CHF 250 million cut in foreign aid. The conservative majority considered this to be acceptable. The left wing of the Council, together with the GLP, unsuccessfully warned against the cuts in aid to the global South.
Next Monday, it's the Council of States' turn. Its Finance Committee is pursuing a different concept to compensate for the higher army expenditure. It wants to save less money on foreign aid than the National Council. The federal budget must be finalized by the end of the winter session.
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