A compromise arises: does the Council of States now say yes to asylum containers?

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Ironically, last week the councils of states turned cantons into hatred after ruling against the loan for the purchase of asylum containers. The responsible federal councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (59) wanted to make provisions if the number of refugees rose again quickly in the autumn.

The cantons then worried that they would have to accommodate more refugees in their already full reception centers if the federal government could not increase its places. On Tuesday, the Council of States will consider the loan of 132 million again, because it had found a majority in the National Council.

The cantons have been busy lobbying their representatives in the Council of States over the weekend. These have paid off, for example, with the FDP. Their Council of States from the canton of Appenzell-Ausserrhoden, Andrea Caroni (43), voted against the loan last week. After talks with his cantonal government, he now leans — subject to council debate — to accept, as Blick confirms.

Is the president against his club?

In addition, the association of cities and municipalities wrote to politicians on Monday. For the cities and municipalities, the creation of additional housing capacity at the federal level is of crucial importance, it says. “Without the provision of container systems by the federal government, there is a risk that asylum seekers will be reclassified in the cantons, cities and municipalities in early autumn 2023.” The two associations warn that this must be avoided at all costs.

Will the warnings fall into open ears? It should be an insult to the association that SVP councilor Hannes Germann (66, SH), the president of the Swiss Association of Municipalities, spoke out against the loan last week. Whether that will be different on Tuesday is still open. “I’m still torn,” he told Blick. His party, the SVP, is strongly against the loan. There is agreement in the SVP that asylum seekers should first be distributed to civil protection facilities in the cantons.

Bundesrat is hopeful

The center party gives an unclear picture. In the National Council she had said yes to the expansion of container villages for refugees. It is still unclear whether the vote in the Council of States is different. The central politicians asked do not want to be quoted.

But it is becoming increasingly clear that a compromise proposal with a significantly lower contribution could find a majority on Tuesday morning, several council members have confirmed. “I would really appreciate that after consultation with my canton and the feedback from the communities,” says Germann. The financial politicians of the small chamber want to decide on the details on Tuesday morning. As you can hear, it is about halving the loan of 130 million.

The responsible federal councilor still hopes for a yes to the mega loan: “I am confident that the Council of States understands what needs to be done,” Baume-Schneider told Blick.

Source:Blick