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Charles Juillard defends the vote of his Security Policy Commission of the Council of States: an off-budget envelope of 15 billion francs for the army and the reconstruction of Ukraine.
The Swiss army could benefit from an additional financial contribution. © Keystone
Published on 04/28/2024
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
The security of the Swiss population is priceless. For the Security Policy Commission (CPS) of the Council of States, it is well worth an additional 15 billion francs in a tense context of global rearmament. An amount which also includes a contribution of 5 billion francs intended for the reconstruction of Ukraine. Supported by the Center and the left, the motion voted on Thursday calls for the creation of a federal law “on an extraordinary contribution to the security of Switzerland and peace in Europe in the face of the war against Ukraine”.
The problem is that it ignores the sacrosanct debt brake, an instrument which prevents structural deficits. An “illegal” circumvention in the eyes of the Federal Council, which does not see in purchases for the army and aid for the reconstruction of Ukraine “extraordinary events which escape the control of the Confederation”. Jura State Councilor Charles Juillard (Le Center) is convinced of the necessity of this off-budget expenditure.
Why release new resources for the army, when parliament has already voted to increase the defense budget?
Charles Juillard: Due to the evolution of the conflict in Ukraine. His army is in difficulty on the ground. The majority of the commission made this analysis. Guarding against war, by increasing military resources, is essential. We must show solidarity with other countries. Our army must become more powerful. It must regain its primary role as protector of the population, a role relegated to second place in the post-war period with the dividends of peace. NATO members must increase their military budget to a minimum of 2% of GDP. Some member countries even speak of 3.5 to 4%. Our proposal is still far from the international standard: we only ask for 1% of GDP for Switzerland by 2030.
“Protecting ourselves against war, by increasing military resources, is essential”
Charles Juillard
Isn’t the timetable for new spending on the army poorly chosen given the recent difficulties in financing it?
When you want to increase the army’s resources, it is never the right time. Parliament passed a motion 2 and a half years ago for the army budget to reach 1% of GDP in 2030. The will of parliament must be respected. It is necessary to make decisions now because it always takes a certain amount of time for things to fall into place in Switzerland between awareness and taking action. And the rise of the army will take several years.
Last December, however, parliament postponed the deadline for reaching 1% of GDP to 2035, in particular thanks to the vote of the Center. Why return to this 2030 deadline so quickly?
The geostrategic situation is evolving rapidly. Instability on the war front and its consequences, particularly on asylum and immigration, require even more rapid reaction than before if we want to be able to respond effectively to the security challenges that this could pose to our country. Not to mention that general rearmament in Europe in particular makes the acquisition and availability of the means the army needs more difficult.
Parliament has the competence to create a legal basis for such a fund. But achieving a majority in the Chambers will be more complicated than within the commission…
We call on MPs of good will to support this proposal. We cannot, on the one hand, ask to create an aid fund for Ukraine, and on the other, draw elsewhere, for example from the international cooperation budget, whose aid is essential for other regions of the world. If we are trying to move in this direction, it is because we want this to be extraordinary spending which does not burden important sectors such as training, agriculture or development aid.
Defense: A military slate which amounts to 25.8 billion
The left is usually allergic to any additional expenses for the army. How did the Center manage to negotiate this compromise?
Regarding the position of the left, it must be remembered that the Greens have long called for greater resources to come to the aid of Ukraine. And in the Socialist Party, the perception of the country’s security policy has also evolved. The diehard anti-army people are fewer in number. This motion should also appeal to those who usually favor the Swiss arms industry.
Where to find this 15 billion francs?
It is up to the Federal Council to formulate proposals to parliament. The security commissions have the mission of looking after the security of the country and its inhabitants and must formulate proposals in this direction. If we want to respect the debt brake, we may have to make adjustments elsewhere. And these 15 billion will not be spent all at once over a single budget year. This does not preclude a later decision from the budget process. Even with a fund of 15 billion, this would be budgeted. This makes it possible to increase the spending ceiling rather than tapping into the working capital and thus making trade-offs with other expenses.
