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The income should not be declared in francs exactly, but at least in an order of magnitude. This is what individual representatives of all parties are demanding.
With the investigations into alleged cash payments from Qatar to a Vice President of the European Parliament, the European Union is currently being shaken by a corruption scandal. As a first measure, the parliament in Strasbourg now wants to tighten the transparency regulations.
The idea is that we know, to a certain extent, how much one earns for a part-time job.
Among other things, EU parliamentarians should have to state the amount of their additional income. A very similar regulation is now being discussed in Switzerland. National councilors should make transparent what they get for a board of directors mandate or an association post.
This is what the Green Councilor of States, Lisa Mazzone, is demanding in a parliamentary initiative that she submitted at the end of the winter session. The week before, the Council of States did not want to know anything about new rules. At issue was a ban on accepting paid mandates after the election if politicians sit on the relevant commissions. Going on to the board of directors of a health insurance company as a health politician was one of the examples mentioned.
But such new rules are too rigid, unjust and unworkable, according to a clear majority with votes from all parties.
If a ban doesn’t stand a chance, the members of parliament should at least have to disclose how much they earn from sideline activities. Mazzone says: «The money makes a difference. It would be important to know better.” However, the aim is not to provide information in francs and centimes.
Rather, a range would be given, for example whether one earns less than 6,000 francs, less than 50,000 or more than 250,000. So that it becomes clear whether a mandate gives a lot or only a little. “The idea is that we know, to a certain extent, how much you earn for a part-time job,” says Mazzone.
Support from the FDP council colleague
Mazzone sees this as a small step after the Council of States rejected the bans. She has secured support from all parties for her parliamentary initiative. About the FDP Council of States Andrea Caroni. It’s all about the most serious cases.
He says: “Sometimes there are cases where someone gets several 1000 francs for one session per year. We should shed some light on that.” However, the idea of transparency is not entirely new. It has already been discussed and rejected several times in Parliament.
There are sometimes cases where someone gets several 1000 francs for one session per year. We should shed some light on that.
Only supporters of the idea wanted to comment publicly on Mazzone’s proposal. Andrea Caroni therefore assumes that the new disclosure requirements will have no chance. Mazzone, on the other hand, hopes that there will be more support for transparency compared to before.