The National Council rejects the Young Liberals’ pension initiative: there is a major pension confrontation at the ballot box

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Now it comes to the big pension confrontation at the ballot box. On March 3, 2024, three pension proposals may come to the people: the referendum against the reform of the pension fund, the popular initiative of the trade unions for a 13th AHV pension and the pension initiative of the Young Liberals. At least, if the young party does not flinch.

The National Council has cleared the way for the upcoming referendum after dispelling Young Liberals’ hopes of a counter-proposal at the legislative level following a turbulent interlude.

On Tuesday morning, the National Council got down to business. He rejected the pension initiative by 133 votes to 40 and 16 abstentions. A direct counter-proposal for an AHV debt brake at the state level was also rejected by 125 votes to 61 and 3 abstentions.

Chropfleerete for “refusal to work”

Before that, there was another short Chropfleerete. The FDP was particularly annoyed and continued to push for a counter-proposal – to enable its fledgling party to withdraw the initiative.

“This is a refusal to work,” accused FDP national councilor Regine Sauter (57, ZH) of the social committee of the National Council, who did not want to make a counter-proposal the day before. She wanted to send the deal back to the committee, which this time had to work out a model for working life. However, your motion of rejection did not pass in plenary. This time clearly by 140 to 42 votes with 7 abstentions – and no longer with an arbitrary increase like last week.

The proposal for a direct counter-proposal for an AHV debt brake at constitutional level also failed to find a majority. FDP and GLP campaigned for this. “The balance in the AHV is in danger,” warned FDP national councilor Andri Silberschmidt (29, ZH). And GLP National Councilor Melanie Mettler (45, BE) recalled that by 2032 AHV spending will increase from the current CHF 47 billion to CHF 62 billion per year. This means that the generation contract is “temporarily out of balance” due to the financing of baby boomer pensions.

Majority against quick shots

But the majority didn’t want hip shots this time. “We have to work seriously and not come up with quick solutions,” said Christian Lohr (61, TG) in the middle of the National Council. In any case, the Federal Council should present a report for a working life model and develop a new AHV reform by 2026. Lohr said the Federal Council should be given this time now.

“There is no reason for your scaremongering!” SP co-boss Matte Meyer (35) countered the liberals. Instead of reducing AHV, AHV should be strengthened. The SP will “fight back tooth and nail” against a higher retirement age.

The chances of pension initiatives are poor

Now the ball is in the hands of the voters, whether they will support the increase in the retirement age for both sexes proposed by the Young Liberals. If so, the retirement age would be gradually raised from 65 to 66 in 2032 and then linked to life expectancy: it should increase by 0.8 months for each month of additional life expectancy. Up to 67, 68 or more. Automatically.

However, the chances of a referendum are slim, according to surveys. The retirement age of 65 for women had just passed, so the threshold for a higher retirement age is significantly higher for everyone.

Source:Blick