Bundesrat members discuss the AHV initiative, occupational pensions, the budget and the elections of the Bundesrat

The winter session of the federal parliament begins on Monday afternoon. In the shadow of the elections for the Bundesrat on December 7, parliament is debating the budget for 2023, the initiative for a 13th AHV pension, future occupational pensions and the reduction in premiums.

Halfway through the three-week session, on December 7, parliament will decide on the successor to Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer (71, SVP) and Federal Councilor Simonetta Sommaruga (62, SP).

The SVP has nominated National Councilor Albert Rösti (55, BE) and former Zurich National Councilor Hans-Ueli Vogt (52). The SP nominates the State Councilor Eva Herzog (60, BS) and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider (58, JU) to parliament for election. On the same day, Alain Berset (50, SP) is expected to be elected Federal President and Viola Amherd (60, center) Vice President of the Federal Council.

Big businesses

The Council presidencies are redefined on the first day of the session: Martin Candinas (42, centre/GR) becomes the new President of the National Council and Brigitte Häberli-Koller (64, centre/TG) becomes the new President of the Council of States.

Important matters are in the shadow of these elections: as always in December, the councils must decide on next year’s budget. The National Council, which is the first to act, has set aside three days in the first week for this. The federal budget for 2023 is – still – balanced and meets the debt brake.

The reform of occupational pension schemes (BVG), which was postponed in June, is awaiting the Council of States. The preliminary advisory committee wants to compensate for the reduction in the conversion rate for the calculation of second-pillar pensions more generously than the National Council for 15 years. About half of the pensioners receive supplements that are geared to age and pension assets.

Cheaper health insurance premiums?

The National Council decided on supplements for only 35 to 40 percent of pensioners aged 15 and older. The compromise proposed by the social partners and supported by the Federal Council provided for supplements for all new pensioners. The unions have already threatened a referendum if this compromise fails in parliament.

The Council of States is also involved in reducing health care premiums – the reason for this is the initiative of the SP for premium reduction and the indirect counter-proposal to this. However, the responsible committee of the Council of States rejects the substantial expansion of the premium discount decided by the National Council.

Revision of sex criminal law

In the second week of meetings, the National Council will discuss the revision of the criminal law for sexual offenses. His preliminary advisory committee wants to enshrine the principle ‘Only yes is yes’ in law, in other words a consent solution.

Anyone who performs a sexual act with that person without the consent of the person concerned commits a criminal offence. The Council of States, on the other hand, voted for “No is no”. A sexual act is therefore punishable if it has taken place against the will of the person concerned.

Traditional celebrations

The National Council is also again dealing with wolves and the shooting of protected large carnivores, numbers of which are rapidly increasing in Switzerland. Killing it to avoid killing livestock and endangering people is supported only by a narrow majority of the provisional advisory committee.

In the third week, the large chamber will consider the AHV initiative of the trade union federation (SGB), which demands a 13th AHV pension. The request had no chance in the committee. The Commission intends to continue to rely on supplementary benefits to support pensioners in need.

Traditionally, there are also celebrations during the winter session: celebrations for President of the National Council, Candinas, and President of the Council of States, Häberli-Koller, are scheduled for Wednesday of the first week. And on December 15, it’s the turn of the two new members of the Federal Council and Federal President Berset to celebrate. (SDA)