The marriage penalty should be scrapped: Mitte is concerned about his AHV initiative

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As soon as the 13th AHV pension is dry, the next AHV expansion is just around the corner. With a popular initiative, the center wants to lower the limit on pensions for married couples. The problem: married couples receive a maximum of 150 percent of an old-age pension, that is, a maximum of 3,675 francs per month. Cohabiting couples, on the other hand, receive two separate individual pensions of up to 2,450 francs – a total of 4,900 francs. For married people this means a loss of 1,225 francs.

The center is still collecting signatures to overturn the marriage penalty for AHV and taxes. “We currently have almost 120,000 signatures for the two initiatives,” says media spokesperson Maxime Marteil. Still, it will be tight because not all of them are certified and about 15 percent are invalid. “That’s why we need another effort in the next two weeks.” However, March 27 has been reserved as the submission date.

Explosive financing demand

But the initiative would cost the AHV an additional 3 billion francs annually. On top of the 4 to 5 billion francs already needed for the 13th AHV pension. It is therefore no wonder that Mitte boss Gerhard Pfister (61) remained remarkably cautious within the Blick elephant group when it came to AHV financing. While the FDP and the SVP attacked the left and spoke out vehemently against additional wage contributions or VAT rates, he referred to new financing proposals.

Mid-state councilor Beat Rieder (61, US) has even floated the idea of ​​a transaction tax on financial markets. FDP Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter (60) must now present a report on how such a tax on securities trading could co-finance the AHV in the medium and long term.

View alternatives

“Sunday’s verdict clearly showed that we must seriously investigate alternative financing options for the AHV and quickly get them on track,” center faction leader Philipp Matthias Bregy (45) told Blick. Solutions are needed that place as little burden on medium-sized businesses as possible. “Federal councilor Keller-Sutter must now quickly submit the requested report.” It can then be estimated whether and to what extent a new microload could contribute to the AHV.

It could well be a few billion: in an interpellation answer, the Ministry of Finance estimated the possible tax volume at a tax rate of 0.1 per mille at approximately 5 billion francs. To immediately add that such an estimate makes no sense in terms of possible solutions.

Support from the SVP

In any case, Bregy is optimistic that the centrist initiative has a good chance at the ballot box. “The yes to the 13th AHV pension shows that the population wants to eliminate injustices such as the AHV marriage penalty.”

He can also count on support from other parties. “The SVP supports the abolition of the marriage penalty in the AHV,” says party leader Thomas Aeschi (45). “At best, a counter-proposal is needed to gradually increase the couple’s pension.”

The left is also not immediately closing the door: “A pension provision that is separate from marital status makes perfect sense,” says SP co-leader Mattea Meyer (36). However, this is not a yes to the Mitte initiative or any counter-proposal. “We first need to look broadly at how and where married couples are disadvantaged, but also advantaged,” says Meyer. “Only then will we make a decision.”

Controversial microtax

The SP woman is open to the transaction tax on the financial markets. “Solidarity but also stable financing models are crucial,” says Meyer. She therefore sees wage contributions in the foreground. “These could be supplemented with a financial transaction tax if necessary.”

However, for SVP faction leader Aeschi, such a tax is out of the question: “Savings are now needed in the asylum system and development aid, so that we can afford better AHV pensions.”

Source:Blick