Improving the compatibility of family and parliamentary mandates: Green Trede calls for funding for childcare

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This Sunday, thousands want to be elected to the Swiss parliament. However, many people probably underestimate how high the workload is in the National Council or the Council of States. Especially if, in addition to the job and the parliamentary mandate, there is also childcare. “I take care of the children in the morning, so I am ready for the first time when I come to parliament,” says Green faction leader Aline Trede (40) to the “NZZ am Sonntag”. She is a mother of two children. “Burnouts are a taboo in parliament, but there are many who are reaching their limits.”

She therefore wants to submit a proposal demanding that council members receive money for a ‘childminder’ or a ‘childminder’. The ‘personal employees’ act as role models. Each parliamentarian may spend 33,000 francs on this annually. “But childcare is also work, so why shouldn’t we get support?” Trede told the newspaper.

Other session times?

To relieve the burden on parents, the session should also be redesigned. Until now, parliamentarians have met four times a year for three weeks. Trede provides a consultation once a month for a week.

The proposal for financial support is not well received by the political competition. SVP Council Member Martina Bircher (39) told the ‘NZZ am Sonntag’ that she was aware of the problems. But: “It should not be the case that parliamentarians receive a solution paid for by the state and are better off than normal employees.” (brother)

Source:Blick