Supporters of the electricity law announce a campaign budget of 4.1 million francs, compared to 1.3 million for opponents. In total, for the four objects put to the vote on June 9, a little more than 10 million are on the table.
In 2021, supporters of the CO2 law thought the vote was a foregone conclusion and campaigned little. The project failed at the polls. During the vote on the climate protection law last year, its defenders were more present in order to avoid another failure, with success.
For these two votes, the Federal Financial Control (CDF) did not yet collect data relating to the campaigns as part of the transparency of the financing of political life. For the campaign on the electricity law, the difference is marked, more than threefold, between the “yes” and “no” camps.
On the supporters’ side, the Alliance for a Secure Electricity Supply is spending around two million and the Swiss Energy Foundation 1.7 million, the CDF said in a press release on Friday. The PS budgets 280,000 francs, the Greens 83,400 francs and Swissmem 55,000 francs.
>> Read also: Supporters of the energy law put to the vote on June 9 launch their campaign
Environmental and energy environments
Several environmental organizations are participating in the “yes” campaign. The WWF, for example, provides 357,500 francs and Greenpeace 20,000 francs. Efforts are also being made on the side of energy companies to defend the law: Axpo, Alpiq, BKW and the Association of Swiss Electric Companies participate the most, with 250,000 francs each.
>> Read also: Environmental organizations support the electricity law to be voted on June 9
In French-speaking Switzerland, Groupe E and Romande Energie respectively advance 50,000 francs, the city of Lausanne and Geneva Industrial Services each advance 25,000 francs. The Valais Motive Forces put up 20,000 francs.
As for the referendums, the Franz Weber Foundation announces 500,000 francs and the Union for Nature and Landscape around 297,000 francs. The UDC, which also opposes the reform, also spends 500,000 francs.
>> Read also: Nature defenders against the electricity law
Transparency
Political actors had until May 2 to submit to the CDF their information concerning the campaigns in preparation for the June 9 votes. They must declare by name campaigns with a budget exceeding 50,000 francs and donations of more than 15,000 francs.
The CDF collected data relating to a vote for the first time for March 3. This was already the case last year for the federal elections on October 22.
ats/edel
