Financial hole in the army: SP demands consequences, Blocher sees a problem at the top

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There is a deficit of over a billion francs. The army can no longer pay its bills and has to postpone payments for new weapons purchases. In some cases, projects can even be canceled. For army chief Thomas Süssli (57) “no drama”, as he said on Thursday. No mistakes were made. And he promised to get the finances back on track.

The Social Democrats see it very differently. During a media conference on Friday afternoon, they called for a comprehensive clarification of the “scandal.” Given the structural billion-dollar deficit in the federal budget until 2027, the SP considers the financial gap in the army to be extremely alarming.

SP state councilor Fabian Molina (33) expresses his concern about the size. He criticized the “disastrous information policy” of the Ministry of Defense (VBS). “The latest financial scandal in the military is unprecedented on this scale.”

SP requires multiple exams

Army chief Süssli has a “more than relaxed approach to the truth,” Molina said. There were indications of “large-scale mismanagement” by the army staff.

Molina therefore called for an external audit to check the military’s financial competence, as well as parliamentary investigations by the audit and finance committees and the Federal Audit Office. “We must find out who knew what, when and on what basis the obligations were entered into,” the Zurich National Council said.

The DDPS obviously has neither the finances, nor the reporting, nor the timing under control, the comrades criticized. “This debacle should not lead to the army receiving even more money,” said Samuel Bendahan (43), SP national councilor and co-chairman of the SP’s federal parliamentary group.

“This is not communication”

Basel SP national councilor Sarah Wyss (35) also called for “full transparency” from the army. It is imperative that there is more light in the darkness. New money should not be spent on the military. If it comes to this, it should not lead to savings measures in other areas – pensions, daycare centers and energy.

But the common people are also concerned about the financial gap in the military. About former federal councilor Christoph Blocher (83). On his show ‘Teleblocher’ on Friday, he attacked army chief Süssli – and he and Molina agreed that he criticized his actions in front of the media. “That’s not communication,” says Blocher. Süssli is ultimately the corps commander. “He knows how to lead. Or learned it.”

“Look at the costs in the federal government”

However, the SVP doyen does not see the financial gap as a major problem. “The federal government will not collapse because of this 1.5 billion. Otherwise he would have died long ago. In many places he has not had any money for a long time,” says Blocher. Instead, he locates the financial problem elsewhere. Namely at the VBS.

“I would look at the costs there. The whole hydrohead in the administration and in the federal administration. There’s bacon in it, may God have mercy.” As a former federal councilor, he cut costs at his Justice Ministry by about a third. In retrospect, he admits only one mistake: “I should have set the savings target higher.”

And Blocher gives Defense Minister Viola Amherd (61) some advice: she must get clarity about the problem. Maybe she already has the same management book as Blocher, because she has remained silent on the subject until now – and blames the army chief.

Source:Blick