New research into the referendum of March 3, 2024 shows: 71 percent want a 13th AHV pension

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Now it is certain: an AHV showdown will take place at the ballot box on March 3, 2024. On this day, a vote will be taken on the trade unions’ popular initiative for a 13th AHV pension, but also on the pension initiative of the Young Liberals. This wants to increase the retirement age for everyone to 66 in 2033 and then automatically adjust it to life expectancy.

The electorate will then decide which direction pension provision should take in the future. A strengthening of the AHV pensions with a 13th monthly salary for retirees? Or a reduction in the burden on the AHV fund because everyone has to work longer?

71 percent want their 13th AHV pension

According to a new study by the Sotomo research institute on behalf of the trade union federation, things are currently looking good for a 13th AHV pension. The institute also presented respondents with pro and con arguments that speak for or against the initiative. The result: 71 percent of respondents currently agree with the initiative. Only 24 percent are against it, the rest have not yet made a decision.

The older the respondents, the greater the agreement: among the retirees themselves, 82 percent said yes. The question is also better received by women than by men. It is not surprising that women are much more affected by elderly poverty and dependent on supplementary benefits than men. And the idea is also more popular among low-wage workers than higher earners.

Even the FDP and SVP base say yes

What is surprising is that the initiative has received support from supporters of all parties. This is most evident among the SP base with 87 percent and the Greens with 80 percent. But the yes values ​​are also high in the bourgeois camp: 69 percent for the center, 65 percent for the SVP, 62 percent for the GLP and 56 percent for the FDP.

The Sotomo authors find it “extraordinary that the initiative currently enjoys majority support across all levels of the population and even in traditionally economically liberal circles.”

Even though the unions can be happy with the research results, the initiative is not yet dry. Not only the electorate must say yes, but also a majority of the cantons. Moreover, support for popular initiatives generally decreases as voting Sunday approaches. However, the research also shows that opinions on the proposal are already more consolidated than was the case with many previous initiatives.

SGB-Maillard: “Best solution to improve pensions”

For chairman of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB) and SP politician Pierre-Yves Maillard (55), it is clear why the demand is so well received by the population. “Everything will become more expensive, and VAT will also increase from 2024. It cannot be the case that the population pays more everywhere, but receives nothing to compensate for the loss of purchasing power,” says the current Kingdom Council member and future Council of States.

“The 13th AHV pension is the best and fastest solution to improve pensions.” He is therefore not surprised by the strong support among SVP voters. “Ultimately what matters is whether those who have worked all their lives will receive a decent pension.”

The Vaudois are especially happy with the strong support in French-speaking Switzerland. According to the survey, 76 percent of Romans surveyed would agree with the initiative and only 17 percent would reject it. The rest is still undecided.

Jungfreisinnen-Müller: “The gap in the AHV fund would become larger”

But Maillard is aware that the battle has not yet been won. Because the resistance comes from the civil side. “On March 3, 2024, the electorate will decide on the stability or demise of the AHV,” says the young liberal president Matthias Müller (31), whose pension initiative will appear before the people the same day. He is confident: “This matter will be decided in our favor.”

According to Müller, he is not surprised that approval for the 13th AHV pension is currently high. “Purchasing power is under pressure, so when in doubt people say yes – that’s understandable.” But the disadvantages will also be discussed extensively in the voting campaign. “The gap in the AHV fund would become much larger, and we cannot expect that from future generations.”

The representative Sotomo survey was collected online between September 12 and 26, 2023. Information from 1,468 respondents was evaluated and weighted according to statistical procedures.

Source:Blick