In parliament, some are considering delaying the increase in the army budget until 2032 or 2033

Published on November 12, 2024 at 07:19. / Modified on November 12, 2024 at 10:36.

The political clashes over the army’s financial envelope are entering a decisive phase. Before the end of the year, parliament will finalize the 2025 federal budget, at the same time setting the resources available to defense next year. The majority bourgeois camp is pushing the envelope: it wants to increase the military budget to 1% of gross domestic product (GDP) already in 2030, and not in 2035 as dictated by current law. This means a significant increase, which should bring between 3 and 4 billion additional dollars each year.

Subject to the debt brake, the Confederation must find this money elsewhere. And this is where everything gets complicated: the targeted increase for the army in 2030 is so high that it would force the Federal Council and parliament to cut considerably in other areas. Elected officials are therefore looking for another path. This could consist of spreading budgetary progress over a longer period, to reach 1% of GDP in 2032, or even in 2033. Discussions are underway in this direction, we learned. Time.

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