Blocher speaks out in favor of EFAS – SVP party leadership gives in

The nine-member committee of the SVP party leadership had voted no to the health care reform. Party father Christoph Blocher intervened. Now the board recommends voting approval.

Francesco Benini / ch media

Christoph Blocher celebrated his 84th birthday on Friday. On the talk show “Tele Blocher” he said that his daughters had invited him to dinner. And the SVP party father said what he thinks of the health care reform that Swiss voters will vote on on November 24th.

Blocher explained that he was in favor of uniformly funded health care. “It is an effort to ensure that the constant increase in health insurance premiums does not continue,” he said.

That was a surprise, because the nine-member committee of the SVP party leadership had recommended a no to the proposal. On Friday afternoon, the party leadership and then the SVP’s large board met. Both committees now spoke out against recommending a no to health care reform. Instead, the request to the party delegates who meet in Aarau on Saturday is: release of votes.

The result in the board was very close: there was a stalemate. Party president Marcel Dettling had to decide. He gave preference to voting approval.

SVP party leadership does not give a good picture

What contributed to the change of opinion was that the six cantonal SVP health directors spoke out in favor of the reform in a letter to party members. The SVP sections of Zurich, Bern, Vaud and St. Gallen had also recommended a yes to the health care reform.

This back and forth does not reflect well on the SVP leadership: in the Federal Parliament the group is clearly in favor of the proposal, the party leadership committee turns to a no, then there is strong resistance, and finally the party leadership takes refuge in the release of votes. The People’s Party now has no position on a major health care reform – provided that the delegates on Saturday approve the board’s request for approval to vote. (aargauerzeitung.ch)

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Federal Councilor Elisabeth Baume-Schneider launched the voting campaign for health care financing reform on Friday. A yes vote from the sovereign at the ballot box should help reduce costs and premiums. The vote will take place on November 24th.

The template for the uniform financing of outpatient and inpatient services (Efas) is intended to create an incentive for the shift from inpatient to outpatient treatment. Financial disincentives should be eliminated and health care costs should be curbed, Baume-Schneider told the media in Bern.