Budget: the Swiss army must have 530 million more in 2025

The army must have 530 million more francs in 2025, the National Finance Commission decided as part of the budget. International cooperation will have to suffer cuts of 250 million. The Chambers will decide during the winter session.

The goal is to maintain the objective of a defense budget at 1% of GDP, as the right of Parliament wants. Initially, the latter demanded an increase for the army of 660 million, but this would not have been in line with the debt brake.

The majority of the commission therefore agreed on an envelope increasing by 530 million compared to the Federal Council, summarized its president Sarah Wyss (PS/BS) during a press briefing.

In detail, the cybersecurity area will obtain 10 million more than expected, but the Federal Armament Office armasuisse will suffer a reduction of 50 million francs, detailed the vice-president of the commission Jacques Nicolet (UDC / VD) .

Agriculture is also one of the preserved areas. The sector should receive 60 million more than expected, estimates the commission. This will avoid cuts in direct payments, according to Mr. Nicolet.

Cuts to cooperation

International cooperation will see its budget reduced by 250 million francs. This “massive cut”, according to Sarah Wyss, is in addition to the cross-cutting budgetary measures already decided by the Federal Council.

The asylum sector must also undergo significant cuts, with 105 million francs less in the budget. Some 85 million, however, are linked to the closure of nine federal centers, decided by the Federal Council following a lower than expected number of asylum applications.

The personnel budget item will also have to make efforts, asks the commission. That of the Confederation should in particular suffer a drop of 70 million francs.

In the end, the commission gave the green light to the 2025 budget by 15 votes to 8, after several days of intensive debate. All federal councilors were interviewed.

“For the majority, we must set priorities, and follow the recent decisions of Parliament, particularly on the army, as well as respect the debt brake,” said Sarah Wyss. For the left-wing minority, the cuts in cooperation are an error and a renunciation of Switzerland’s humanitarian tradition. The Chambers will examine the thorny issue during the winter session.

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