Until now, comrades were in favor of abolition: the SP is suddenly fighting for more money for the army

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Help comes from an unexpected source. After all, the SP still strives for the abolition of the army in its party program. But now she suddenly supports a motion by SVP State Councilor Werner Salzmann (61), who wants to push through a higher army budget.

Alarmed by the war in Ukraine, parliament decided to increase military spending to 1 percent of gross domestic product by 2030 – from about 5.5 billion to about 9.5 billion francs per year. However, due to the gloomy financial prospects, the Federal Council put on the brakes: according to it, the 1 percent target should only be achieved in 2035. Armament projects should be further postponed.

But SVP security politician Salzmann does not want to accept that so easily. On Tuesday, the Council of States will discuss its proposal, which should show the Federal Council how the army budget can be increased more quickly – without violating the debt brake. The money is urgently needed “to restore our country’s defense capacity,” it said.

Salzmann now mainly receives support from the SP. “That may be surprising, because we fought against this sudden increase in parliament last year,” admits SP finance politician Sarah Wyss (35). In fact, there was no change of heart among the comrades. The party is not concerned about the well-being of the army. On the contrary, the current debt brake is a thorn in the side that also stands in the way of a higher army budget.

“With the support of Salzmann’s motion, the SP leadership wants to demonstrate the absurdity of the current debt brake and initiate a debate,” says Wyss, explaining Salzmann’s support. The military’s planned budget increase caused all the “financial stress.” The Federal Council has now announced austerity measures in all areas to slow down expenditure growth in 2024.

But the savings plans go way too far for the SP. “The restrictive design of the debt brake no longer respects the will of the people,” Wyss said. When it was introduced twenty years ago, the aim was to stabilize the debt. However, it is now an ‘investment stop instrument’: ‘That is not productive, because in times of crisis we unnecessarily tie our own hands and thus prevent important and necessary investments.’

Don’t reduce debt in times of crisis

The SP does not want to abolish the debt brake, but does want to adjust it. “Unused surpluses from the past must be able to be invested in the future,” says Wyss. The debt brake should be designed to be growth-oriented, thereby stabilizing the net debt ratio.

Since the introduction of the debt brake, Switzerland’s net debt ratio has fallen dramatically. “Today we have the lowest quota in Europe,” Wyss emphasizes. “It is absolutely not appropriate to further reduce debt in times of crisis such as now.” It is more important to invest wisely now, for good pensions, affordable premiums or the energy transition.

“Today, part of the money would be available for such investments, but it cannot be used because of the debt brake,” the SP state councilor said angrily. ‘That’s absurd. We must remain able to act.” The common people must now gradually recognize this. However, the chances of a higher army budget in parliament are probably slim.

Source:Blick