Oligarch task force, ban on extremist symbols and initiatives
Published: Monday, Apr 15th 2024, 04:51
Updated At: Monday, Apr 15th 2024, 04:51
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Switzerland's participation in the repo task force in connection with sanctions against Russia, a ban on extremist symbols and dozens of motions: these are the topics of the three-day special session of the National Council.
This begins today, Monday, and lasts until Wednesday. Special sessions are held by the Federal Assembly when there is not enough time in the ordinary sessions to deal with their business. Special sessions can also be held by only one chamber. Unlike the National Council, the Council of States does not have to sit in "detention".
Narrow majority in favor of participation in task force
The most important items are not on the agenda until Wednesday. These include the motion by Franziska Ryser (Greens/SG) calling for participation in the international task force to track down Russian oligarch money (repo) (item number 22.3451). The committee responsible voted in favor by a narrow majority.
The majority is of the opinion that Switzerland must do more to ensure that the sanctions against Russia are implemented in full. The minority believes that the current cooperation with the task force is working sufficiently well. It also has concerns about Switzerland's independence.
The Federal Council also rejects the motion and refers to Switzerland's contacts with international bodies dealing with the enforcement of sanctions against Russia following the attack on Ukraine. The sanctions were imposed after the attack on Ukraine in February 2022.
Ban on symbols of violence
Also on the third day of the session, the National Council will debate a ban on publicly used extremist, racist and violence-glorifying symbols on the basis of three motions. The Legal Affairs Committee wants to quickly ban National Socialist symbols and, in a second step, other violent symbols.
Symbols relating to National Socialism and the Third Reich are easier to identify than other extremist symbols, writes the Commission. It sees this gradual approach as a compromise offer to the Council of States, which has spoken out in favor of a more comprehensive regulation.
Today, symbols are punishable if they are used to promote a racist ideology. To date, Parliament has not wanted a total ban, in particular due to the difficulty of defining the symbols to be banned (business numbers 23.4318, 21.524 and 23.400).
Also on the agenda for the third day is a restriction on the right of associations to lodge complaints. Environmental organizations should no longer be allowed to lodge complaints against smaller residential construction projects in building zones. Heritage and landscape conservationists want to defend themselves against the Environment Commission's proposal (item number 19.409).
The majority of the Environment Committee wants to make changes to the Nature and Cultural Heritage Protection Act to prevent parties with very different resources from being pitted against each other in appeal proceedings. The Federal Council supports the proposals, including the exceptions for important sites or biotopes, for example.
Discussion on legislative planning
Finally, tomorrow, Tuesday, the National Council will discuss the political agenda until the end of 2027 (business number 23.082). In addition to relations with the EU, finance and climate protection, the Federal Council wants to focus on AI, crisis management, energy supply and the reconstruction of Ukraine in its legislative planning.
For the remainder of the special session, the large chamber wants to carry out parliamentary motions. It has lists of motions and postulates from several departments.
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