After heavy criticism: Zurich Airport stops donations to parties

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Flughafen Zürich AG’s board of directors, under new chairman Josef Felder, took public criticism of financial support for political parties as an opportunity to review the company’s donation practices. According to the decision, future party donations must be abandoned.

In the middle of the year, due to an interpellation in the Zurich cantonal parliament, it became known that parties with more than 15 seats in the cantonal council received 40,000 francs a year, while smaller parties received 20,000 francs. This amount even doubled during election years.

FDP received an average of 50,000 francs

Parties committed to a “competitive” airport were taken into consideration. Particularly left-wing politicians criticized this addition as nepotism. However, Zurich Airport AG did not answer which parties actually received money. The FDP announced in the council debate that it has received an average of 50,000 francs annually for the last six years. EPP even refunded donations.

The airport stated that with the new regulation, “the board of directors took into consideration the fact that the general understanding of corporate governance has changed.” As before, people who hold political positions or take part in election campaigns will not be supported. The amended Group Code of Conduct of Flughafen Zürich AG will come into force on 1 October 2023. (sak/SDA)

Source :Blick