Up to 30,000 francs: Economists call for annual tax for immigrants

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Reiner Eichenberger (62) is polarizing. The economist constantly makes provocative demands. Now he is renewing a well-known demand: He demands a tourist tax for people immigrating to Switzerland. “Everyone who immigrates to Switzerland gets a tremendous increase in their well-being,” he says in an interview with “NZZ”. Italians, for example, would earn 70 percent more when adjusted for purchasing power.

Eichenberger says politicians should decide how high the tax should be. “Due to the cost of Switzerland and the benefits it provides to immigrants, residence taxes of 5,000 to 30,000 francs per year until naturalization may be justified.” Children should not have to pay anything and there should be a reduced tax for cross-border travellers. The public should decide what happens to the money. Eichenberger recommends tax relief for “NZZ.”

Not the first suggestion

This is not the first time Eichenberger has brought the proposal to the political stage. As early as 2017, he stated that a tax was seen as a solution when it came to introducing mass immigration.

The idea is making its first attempt in parliament in a weaker form. SVP parliamentary group leader Thomas Aeschi (44) demands an entry tax for foreigners. Everyone entering Switzerland must pay 25 francs. Cross-border travelers are exempt from this. Aeschi mostly touched on tourism in his justification. “Such a tax on adult foreigners would lead to less transit traffic and less overtourism in tourism hotspots.”

André Lüthi (62), CEO of the Globetrotter Group, said in a recent Blick interview: “Without a daily quota it will no longer work in popular places.” (brother)

Source :Blick