The ambitious TPG service contract for the next five years is in trouble. Refused on Friday by the Grand Council, this envelope of two billion did not pass the ramp. Only the budget for next year has been validated. An impasse which calls into question the entire contract which binds the TPG to the Council of State.
Increasing the supply of public transport by 30% by 2030, electrification of the entire fleet, new tram lines, everyone agreed, right up to the costing of this ambitious plan. Two billion for the next five years is too much for the UDC, which has asked to re-discuss the financial terms. “Between 2023 and 2029, the increase in this compensation is 60% while the increase in supply is 30%” denounces UDC MP Michael Andersen.
Project therefore rejected because of an amendment, voted for by the right. Only the tranche of 325 million for 2025 has been validated, which could call into question the entire contract. “A small part of the envelope is not possible because we are hiring additional drivers in 2025 to see the supply increase in 2026. Without credit next year, this will not be possible, hence the importance of these multi-annual envelopes to have a long-term vision” criticizes the State Councilor in charge of mobility, Pierre Maudet.
The Center was fooled by the UDC
A decision denounced by the left, which calls for a start to get out of this imbroglio. For Matthieu Jotterand, MP and leader of the PS group, the Center must come to its senses and the next time in plenary, the service contract will be accepted. “The right must take advantage of the discussions in committee to do serious parliamentary work,” he argues.
The Center in favor of the service contract but which voted for the UDC amendment therefore has the keys to unlocking the situation. “I hope to obtain by the next session of the Grand Council the information that we forgot to ask for, if I may say so, we are not opposed to the development of the TPG offer, two billion is a lot money, we wanted to have more details, ultimately it’s an auto-goal” defends Jacques Blondin, MP and leader of the Geneva Center group.
A self-goal which should have no consequences on the final result. MEPs have less than a month to reverse the score and accept this plan in favor of mobility.
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