Purchasing power, climate and equality are among the topics of the Swiss Social Democratic Party for the election campaign of 2023. The SP announced this on Saturday in Basel at its party congress.
Purchasing power is intended to reduce inequality in Switzerland, according to the SP in its election paper. Fighting the climate crisis and ensuring security of supply is another priority.
Co-Chairman Cédric Wermuth told delegates on Saturday:
The SP should therefore take the concerns of both the trade unions and the feminist and climate movements to heart. “Nowadays, the left no longer needs to get bogged down in separate parts,” Wermuth said.
Other spearheads for the election campaign are a reduction in health insurance premiums, more solar panels, affordable day care centers for reconciling work and family. The party referred to popular initiatives in this area.
Other pressing issues for the Social Democrats are poverty alleviation and strengthening public service, as the campaign paper says.
An important topic at the SP party conference was Switzerland’s relationship with the EU. “European policy is a difficult topic for all parties – but we will not shy away from discussion,” said co-chair Mattea Meyer in her speech. This must be done with the position paper “The dawn of a social and democratic Europe”. There, accession to the EU is discussed in three phases. “A smartly negotiated and flanked EU accession is not the only option, but the best option,” said SP National Councilor and Vice President Jon Pult.
Two MEPs propose not to include the item Europe on the agenda. The worry barometer is currently about other topics such as climate, war and inflation, according to an SP member. The EU, on the other hand, is a “luxury subject” because accession will not be able to gain a majority in the foreseeable future. Another Social Democrat present described the EU not as a solution, but as “part of the problem”. Another deputy from Juso also called for the paper to be rejected because there was no legitimate criticism of the migration policy.
Co-chair Cédric Wermuth objected that the European issue was full of contradictions, but that the SP should not leave it to the ‘simplifiers’ and let it be divided by that. Finally, the attendees clearly decided to participate in the discussion on the Europa paper. The rejection request was also rejected. The SP will decide on Sunday whether the position paper will be accepted.
Federal councilor Alain Berset also spoke at the party congress of the SP. “We must ensure that the weak do not have to tighten their belts even more,” he said in his address to delegates. Poverty is a bitter reality in Switzerland and that needs to change. This is how inflation affects many people.
The Minister of Health also discussed the costs of health insurers. “We should not accept that premiums are increasingly becoming a burdensome or even overwhelming burden,” Berset says. In this regard, he criticized “a refusal to reform” in politics.
Berset also referred to the AHV reform proposal that was accepted by the people in September and rejected by the SP. “I don’t like the last vote result here in the hall and I understand that,” Berset told SP deputies. Now you have to fight against the worse position of women in the second pillar. “This pledge must now be demanded,” Berset said.
The party conference of SP Switzerland lasts two days and takes place in the congress center on the Messeplatz.
(dsc/sda)
Source: Blick
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