Despite public outcry: Federal Council insists on free ski pass

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The outrage was great. “Have our federal councilors gone crazy?” asked SVP politician Mike Egger (31). This weekend it was announced that the federal government will purchase a permanent ticket for the Swiss cable cars for the federal council members from this year onwards. Cost: 4,324 francs each. The government is skipping at the expense of the taxpayers!

This is not well received everywhere. SVP State Councilor Egger accuses the government of a “self-service mentality”: “Treating yourself to a ski subscription with a salary of more than 470,000 francs, while Finance Minister Keller-Sutter has promised a savings package, unfortunately shows arrogance.” Egger is not alone in his criticism.

Even Amherd was skeptical

Government circles even say that the new Federal President Viola Amherd (61) also had concerns. It was clear to the middle federal councilor that such privileges would not be well received if the Federal Council were to simultaneously call for austerity. But the government majority came to a different conclusion.

Moreover, with an average price of approximately 70 francs, the federal councilors will hardly be able to obtain 4,324 francs. For the luxury subscription to be profitable at all, the magistrates would have to sit on the board for more than sixty days – it is difficult to imagine that this is still possible in that time.

The Federal Council maintains privileges

The Federal Council still insists on the ski GA. Previously, the Swiss cable cars provided one season ticket for free. But after an investigation into the granting of benefits in a similar case in the canton of Valais, this case has also come to an end before the Federal Council. Now the taxpayers have to pay for it.

The Federal Council takes the position that “there have been no conflicts of interest in this matter in the past,” the Federal Chancellery explains to Blick. However, due to public discussions in the cantons, the government has decided on this new solution.

And the Federal Council is not prepared to shake up the matter again, the Federal Chancellery makes it clear: “It is not the intention that it will go through the books again.”

Not the only special rules

After all, he also benefits from a free SBB-GA 1st class and an extra free subscription from the Association for Public Transport (VöV), which also includes private public transport companies. However, this will last be available in 2024. It is unclear whether taxpayers will also have to pay for this in the future.

In any case, these are certainly not the only special rules that the state government claims. Unlike Parliament, it will receive, among other things, inflation compensation for 2024. While the lifelong widow’s pension for ordinary people will be abolished, there will also be a special rule for federal councilors and their family members.

Source:Blick