Newly composed parliament faces its first test
Published: Monday, Dec 4th 2023, 04:50
Updated At: Monday, Dec 4th 2023, 04:50
Back to Live Feed
The new legislative period of the Federal Assembly begins today, Monday - the 52nd since the founding of the modern federal state. The new members of parliament cannot expect a grace period: The agenda for the winter session is packed.
The preliminaries are limited to the first day. In the National Council, the session will open with speeches by the President of the Old People's Party, Gerhard Pfister (ZG), and the youngest member of the Council elected for the first time, Bernese SVP National Councillor Katja Riem.
After the swearing-in of the 54 new members of the National Council, the presidency of the Council is elected. The current Vice-President Eric Nussbaumer (SP/BL) is appointed. Maja Riniker from the Free Democrats in Aargau takes over the Vice-Presidency.
The Council of States will have 13 new members. After the swearing-in ceremony, the small chamber will also elect a new chair. Eva Herzog, SP member of the Council of States from Basel, who was brilliantly confirmed in office in October following her defeat in the election to replace Federal Councillor Simonetta Sommaruga at the end of 2022, is the intended candidate. FDP Councillor of States Andrea Caroni (AR) is likely to take over the Vice-Presidency.
New composition
In addition to the new Council leadership, the elections have also resulted in a new balance of power under the Federal Palace dome. In the National Council, the SVP parliamentary group has gained significant influence, the SP and the center have made slight gains, while the FDP, Greens and GLP have fewer seats than before.
In the Council of States, the center has reinforced its supremacy, ahead of the FDP, the SP and the SVP. The Greens lost their group strength. On the other hand, the Green Liberals are celebrating a comeback in the small chamber with Tiana Angelina Moser (ZH). The Geneva protest movement MCG is represented in the small chamber for the first time with Mauro Poggia.
Even with the FDP and smaller right-wing parties, the SVP will not be able to achieve a right-wing majority in any chamber, as was the case from 2015 to 2019. The red-green camp does not have a majority either, meaning that the strengthened center will tip the scales even more clearly than before.
Focus on electoral business
The focus of the winter session is on the general elections to the Federal Council. Alain Berset's seat must be filled. No party is likely to contest the seat for the Social Democrats. The official SP ticket includes Graubünden National Councillor Jon Pult and Beat Jans, President of the Cantonal Government of Basel.
Despite their election defeat, the Greens have decided to contest a seat held by the FDP. However, the candidacy of National Councillor Gerhard Andrey (FR) has little chance of success, as most parties have declared that they do not want to oust an incumbent member of the Federal Council.
Following the Federal Council elections, Defense Minister Viola Amherd (center) is likely to be elected President of the Swiss Confederation for 2024. Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (FDP) is likely to become Vice President.
The post of Federal Chancellor is also filled on the same day. Walter Thurnherr (center) has announced his retirement. Vice-Chancellor Viktor Rossi, who comes from the ranks of the Green Liberals, has put himself forward as a candidate. The SVP also has its sights set on the office: at the beginning of November, it put forward a two-man ticket with Gabriel Lüchinger from St. Gallen and Nathalie Goumaz from Vaud. Independent Lukas Gresch-Brunner, Secretary General of the Federal Department of Home Affairs (FDHA), is also interested in the post.
Accelerating the energy transition
Traditionally, the federal budget for the coming year is also discussed in the winter session. The financial outlook is gloomy, so Parliament's room for maneuver is limited. However, according to the finance committees of both chambers, agriculture should largely be spared further austerity measures.
Energy and climate issues will not be neglected in the Federal Parliament in December either. The National Council will deal with a law that should enable the accelerated construction of solar, wind and hydroelectric power plants. The issue of the right to lodge complaints with associations will also be discussed.
The new CO2 Act is also a topic in the upper chamber. The Federal Council's draft, which does not provide for any new levies or bans, was supported by the Council of States in its basic outline. But the devil is in the detail.
Circular economy and biodiversity
The Council of States will discuss another environmental issue. It is about a bill to develop a circular economy. Items that are no longer used should be passed on or recycled wherever possible. After the National Council, the responsible Council of States committee also wants to bring about a cultural change.
The biodiversity initiative is once again a topic in the small chamber. The responsible committee insists that there should be no indirect counter-proposal to the petition for a referendum. The majority believes that sufficient areas of particular importance for biodiversity can be protected under current legislation.
SVP demands asylum debate
Both councils will also hold a debate on asylum. This was initiated by the SVP. The National Council and Council of States will vote on two motions calling on the Federal Council to reverse the relaxed asylum policy for Afghan women. As in other votes, the center party will tip the scales.
The demand of both Security Policy Committees (SIK) to ban the radical Islamic Palestinian organization Hamas is likely to be less controversial. The Federal Council has already announced that it will draw up a corresponding bill by next February.
Finally, the Federal Council could be given some leeway to approve arms exports to countries where human rights are not respected. The relevant committee of the National Council supports the relaxation of the law adopted by the Council of States, despite opposition from the left.
The first session of the new legislature ends on December 22 with the final votes.
©Keystone/SDA
English 
German 
French 
Spanish 
Arabic