Free TPG: the PLR ​​divided in the face of the appeal of two of its own

Dramatic twist in Geneva: two PLR deputies appealed against free TPG for young people and half-price for seniors. Will the measure be buried? Rebuffed? Will it come into force on 1^is January as planned? Total uncertainty reigns.

Will this “full attack on the middle class”, in the words of Pierre Maudet, head of the Mobility Department, have an impact on the November 24 vote on the tax cut? And the PLR ​​scores in the 2025 municipal elections? In this party, the initiative of Adrien Genecand and Yvan Zweifel received a mixed reception.

On behalf of the Council of State, Nathalie Fontanet recalled that these measures were intended to be the “social complement” of the tax cut for individuals: they make it possible to reach the 36% of taxpayers who do not pay tax.

Without them, the left will attack a tax reform that it will judge to be all the more unbalanced. But this is already the argument who got the better of the tax cut on work tools, buried in the vote on September 22.

Inappropriate for the CCIG

This defeat shook the right, where the failure was blamed on a certain discretion of the parties during the campaign. From then on, it is they who will lead the next campaign, where the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCIG) was more or less alone in the maneuver.

Its director and PLR deputy Vincent Subilia recalls how important the November 24 vote is: “Geneva is the canton that taxes its citizens the most in Switzerland. This shows that, for the CCIG and the PLR, this fair and reasonable tax reduction is a priority.” As such, regardless of questions of law, “the appeal of these two excellent deputies is inappropriate,” believes the spearhead of the CCIG. Furthermore, it gives credence to the idea that the PLR ​​is a party of the well-off, even though it is diverse and also includes families or retirees for whom the ends of the month are not easy. Finally, this recourse accentuates a tendency towards the judicialization of the political debate which is not judicious.

Philippe Fleury, director of the Federation of Romande Enterprises (FER), rather close to the Center, hardly thinks differently: “The measure (on TPG) seems reasonable to us, if we want to give a boost to the population. In this context, the appeal does not help, even if the tax reduction, linked to the results of the Canton, is a good way to restore purchasing power to people, without affecting public services.

Murat MP Julian Alder defends his two colleagues: “In form, Yvan Zweifel and Adrien Genecand filed their appeal in their own name and not that of the PLR, which is their right as citizens.” This appeal is in the hands of justice and the question of its suspensive effect should be decided before the vote, he adds: “I am surprised to hear protest today from those who did not say a word when the law on begging, also passed by parliament, was the subject of an appeal. Basically, the PLR ​​has never made a link between free TPG and the planned tax cut. This is a view of the mind of the Council of State.”

And in the communities?

And what do the municipal PLR magistrates think? Many, embarrassed, refuse to comment. One of them, however, deplores, under cover of anonymity, an image damage for the party, wondering why the two deputies did not have the appeal signed by an ordinary citizen.

Elected in Cologny, Catherine Pahnke considers it “a shame” that this appeal was made against a measure favorable to the middle class, hit by the increase in health premiums. But not enough to penalize the tax cut, according to her.

Likewise, the magistrate, who is not representing herself, thinks that there will be no influence on the elections in Cologny: “We are far from cantonal affairs and towns. In the municipalities, what counts is the proximity of the candidates to the people.”

In the City of Geneva, in fact, the candidate for Town Hall, Natacha Buffet-Desfayes, declared at the start of the week: “We would have done without it! I remain positive, but it will give my opponents something to grind for.”

Pascal Uehlinger, elected in Thônex who is not running, finds that there is a lot of noise about an appeal which will allow us to say whether the measures are legally legitimate or not. And therefore whether the authorities have worked well or poorly. “What offends me is that Pierre Maudet is committed to an implementation on 1^is January. If he can’t stick to it, what will he say to the young Thônesians who took out a subscription in September with the promise that three-quarters of the price will then be refunded to them? This is what borders on the code!”

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