Army in need: Amherd’s puzzling financial strategy

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Remarkable passages can be found in documents from the Finance Department about the discussions on the 2024 budget. Especially when it comes to the financial planning of the Ministry of Defense (DDPS).

The documents from January 2023, which Blick was able to view on the basis of the disclosure law, show that Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (60) and Defense Minister Viola Amherd (61) agreed to increase army spending by 286 million francs compared to of of the original plan to reduce. The Tamedia newspapers first reported about it last week.

The military needs more money

This is surprising, as army chief Thomas Süssli, 57, recently reported huge financial needs for the army. He told the audience that an amount of R800 million would have to be set aside this year alone.

Given this lack of money, it is not just Amherd’s apparently willing renunciation that is surprising. Other passages about the financial planning of the Ministry of Defense also raise questions. The DDPS simply states that it needs more money for civil protection, for cyber security and for Swisstopo, the Federal Office for State Topography.

While the other departments report financial needs for their central projects – the Ministry of Internal Affairs, for example for childcare outside the family or the electronic health record, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs for reconstruction aid in Ukraine, the Ministry of Justice and Police for migration – there is no mention is made of major army projects in the documents.

In an appendix, the Finance Department even states in connection with the DDPS that ‘a lead time’ is required before new projects are ‘ready for tender’; It is also possible to spread planned expenses by setting priorities.

Strong criticism of Amherd

Given the financial misery in the army, Amherd is now heavily criticized for agreeing to the cutback proposals. Your spokesperson Lorenz Frischknecht answers that the DDPS only made its contribution so that the Federal Council could actually achieve its savings target. Unlike the other departments, they were spared from linear cuts.

Frischknecht also contradicts accusations that the gaps in the army’s equipment cannot be closed in the coming years, apart from a lack of money and a lack of mature projects. There are plenty of projects that can be realized soon.
For example, a new artillery system must be included in the armament program in 2026 and preparations are also being made to maintain the value of the Leopard tanks. But Frischknecht admits: “The purchase of armaments is complex and takes time.”

Source:Blick