He accepted a motion from his Economic Commission (WAK-N) on Wednesday with 101 votes in favour, 84 against and 7 abstentions. Now it is the turn of the Council of States. If he also agrees to the initiative, the Bundesrat must set up a task force “quickly”.
If those assets are tracked down by designated individuals, the money would be blocked pending clarification, but not seized. A failed attempt in the summer had called for such a move.
Commission spokeswoman Kathrin Bertschy (GLP/BE) said the new initiative now makes this legally problematic requirement obsolete. According to the text of the motion, the assets of Russian and Belarusian nationals on the sanctions list must be traced and only blocked “until there is no doubt about it”.
Representatives of the SVP and FDP opposed the initiative. The minority considered the existing structures and activities of the federal government sufficient, it was said in justification.
The Federal Council argued similarly. Economy Minister Guy Parmelin said he was confident processes between the federal government and private companies in Switzerland were well coordinated and efficient.
The high amount of frozen assets – also in an international comparison – shows that the processes work. The Bundesrat therefore does not consider it necessary to set up a task force at this time.
(SDA)