Controversial celebration for the highest Swiss: 480,000 franc festival causes excitement for Basel’s district administrator

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The Basel region has two reasons to celebrate: Basel SP state councilor Eva Herzog (61) is elected chairman of the Council of States in December, and Basel SP state councilor Eric Nussbaumer (63) is appointed chairman of the National Council. It will be a big celebration in both cantons. Cost ceiling: 480,000 francs. This has caused a lot of commotion in both cantons in recent days.

Even the cantonal parliament of Basel has now discussed the issue. The Baselbiet government’s justifications for the planned National Council President’s Festival costing a total of 480,000 francs sparked a lively debate in the district administration on Thursday. There was criticism from almost all groups that the amount was too high.

“We must maintain a sense of proportion,” said Andreas Dürr (FDP), who submitted an urgent interpellation on this issue. The festival is scheduled for December 6. Basel-Stadt pays 240,000 francs, Baselland 200,000 and the city of Liestal 40,000 francs.

“Indecently high amount”

Peter Riebli (SVP) spoke of an “indecently high amount”. Other factions sounded less aggressive. Simon Oberbeck (centre) said that in this discussion the comparison of Parliament with a “people’s theatre” was very appropriate. After all, the district administrator is not a festival organizing committee of 90 people. But the amount is already too high.

This view was also shared by Marco Agostini (Greens), who suggested that the government would reduce planned expenditure. Roman Brunner (SP) also spoke of an amount that was too high, but criticized the prioritization of the cantonal parliament. As a result, the interpellation for this celebration was declared urgent, but not several proposals for an increase in health insurance premium reductions. SP district leader Urs Kaufmann therefore criticized the fact that “this petty discussion” was given preference over more important topics at the festival.

Peter Riebli asked the government what would happen if Nussbaumer, against expectations, missed re-election to the National Council in October. District President Monica Gschwind (FDP) said that in the event of cancellation, there would be a “residual amount” left.

Basel justifies the costs

There have also already been reactions to the statement by the two governments in the canton of Basel-Stadt. The Basel SVP announced that it would submit a request for cuts in the 2024 budget. The online portal “Primenews” first reported on the costs of the festival.

In a press release, the Basel government justified the amount of 480,000 francs for the joint celebration or its own share of 240,000 francs. “The amount of 240,000 francs is (albeit in the upper limit) in line with what other cantons have spent on such celebrations in the past,” the government council writes.

Valais celebrates generously

He refers to figures from the canton of St. Gallen, which years ago had to justify the costs of the celebration of the President of the Council of States for Karin Keller-Sutter (59) – the current Federal Councilor. At 157,000 francs it cost the canton of St. Gallen and the municipality of Wil 6,700 francs.

But it can also be more generous: Wallis donated 325,000 and 281,000 francs for the presidential celebrations of the National Council in 2010 and 2014. And now wants to spend 350,000 francs for the celebration of the Federal President for Viola Amherd (61).

In 2016, the residents of Appenzell Innerrhoden celebrated their own President of the Council of States as the cheapest with 66,000 francs.

600 guests expected

Basel expects about 600 guests for the joint celebration. It is also more expensive because you have to stop in both cantons.

“The planned event aims to introduce guests from Bern to the common region and its specific topics,” the statement said. “The festival community from Bern should stop in both cantons and have the opportunity to meet the locals.” (SDA/rus)

Source:Blick