Criticism reinforces the head of the expert group’s austerity measures
Published: Sunday, Sep 8th 2024, 07:40
Retour au fil d'actualité
The head of the group of experts for the federal government's savings proposals sees his work vindicated by the criticism. The criticism from all camps shows that the proposals are relatively balanced, said Serge Gaillard in an interview with "NZZ am Sonntag".
Gaillard cannot estimate how many of the more than 60 recommendations will actually be implemented. "But it is possible that even better proposals will be put on the table," said the former head of the financial administration in an interview published on Sunday.
He has received criticism from left to right, from central cantons and peripheral regions. "You don't make friends with austerity," says Gaillard.
The group of experts reviewed over 300 individual loans. The good news is: "The federal government is doing a lot of things sensibly, a lot of the expenditure is well justified and effective," said Gaillard. The proposals also showed that Switzerland could make savings "without the world coming to an end".
The report on the situation of the federal finances presented by a group of experts on Thursday identified potential savings of up to CHF 5 billion from 2030.
The FDP and SVP welcomed it, while the SP and Greens rejected it. The Conference of Cantonal Governments warned against a hasty shift of the burden to the cantons.
Round tables with cantons, political parties and social partners will be convened over the next few days. The next steps are to be determined at the end of September. The Federal Council is expected to conduct an ordinary consultation on the defined measures in January. Parliament will then decide on this.
©Keystone/SDA
French 
English 
German 
Spanish 
Arabic