After the cancellation of popular military shows: politicians shoot sharply at the army leadership

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For FDP Council of States Josef Dittli (66) it is clearly a wrong decision: “It doesn’t work that way.” SVP security politician Thomas Hurter (60) speaks of “the fact that politicians and the population are insulted”. And for SP national councilor Priska Seiler Graf (55), chairman of the Security Committee, the actions of the army leadership raise many questions.

The army surprised everyone. On Friday she announced that she wanted to cancel several popular public events – due to the ‘tense financial situation’. That’s surprising. For example, the Air Force’s ‘Air Spirit 24’ air show was only finally announced last fall. And the financial situation has hardly deteriorated since then. On the contrary: in December, Parliament massively increased the army budget.

Army Chief Thomas Süssli (57) explained to SRF’s “Tagesschau” that, among other things, operating costs had increased. It was only last Wednesday that it was recognized that the major events would be canceled and a decision subsequently made.

“Do you have the planning under control?”

But Parliament is not satisfied with that. Green Councilor Mathias Zopfi (40) is particularly surprised. SP national councilor Sarah Wyss (35) urges X that the army will receive 300 million francs more per year in the future. Yet she cancels events at short notice. ‘And that is supposed to create trust?’ asks the chairman of the Finance Commission rhetorically. “Do you have the planning under control?” Ultimately, the army has not been able to spend all the money for years due to lengthy procurement processes.

The army had argued to Blick that the additional funds approved by parliament would only flow in a few years. However, she has not yet been able to mention concrete savings from canceling public events. One thing is clear: this will not solve your financial problems, but it is a visible step.

The army chief is likely to have to attend the next meeting of the Council’s National Security Committee. A corresponding application has already been submitted. The security politicians are annoyed that they were not informed in advance.

“It seems like they are trying to put pressure on a higher budget.”

For SP security politician Seiler Graf, the argument about the tense financial situation is not plausible. For FDP security politician Dittli, the Ministry of Defense (VBS) of federal councilor Viola Amherd (61) must now correct the savings decision. He also urged Parliament’s Security Committee to address the issue quickly.

SVP committee colleague Hurter sees it the same way. After all, the planned air show ‘Air Spirit 24’ would have practically been financed by outsiders. The military hardly saves anything by going without. “It seems as if they want to put pressure on politicians and the population for a higher budget,” he says. “Therefore, savings must be made where it harms the population.”

“In the past, there was a member of the military in every household. Nowadays it is precisely such public events that are a substitute for experiencing the military up close,” Hurter emphasizes. That’s exactly why they are so important. Now delete that too. This means that acceptance of the army among the population – and also in politics – continues to decline. For Hurter, “this short-term approach is absolutely unacceptable.”

For the Swiss Association of Military Societies (VMS), the military’s suspension of public events is a “very worrying signal”, especially given the tense security situation in Europe. Every franc saved for public appearances reduces the military’s visibility, warns VMS president Stefan Holenstein. The military depends on popular support, especially during the ongoing budget debates. So the saving decision is wrong.

Source:Blick