“Arena” for equality – women: really discriminated against or only in the “victim role”? – News


contents

A deep gender divide emerged in the vote on the AHV reform. In the “Arena”, politicians discussed how to proceed with old-age provision and how equal opportunities are. . And: You commented on the resignation of Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer.

It was the number one topic of political discussion yesterday: Federal Councilor Ueli Maurer announced his resignation. In the “Arena”, politicians from SP to SVP paid tribute to him for his services to Switzerland. “Ueli, thank you very much for your work,” said his party colleague and SVP national councilor Diana Gutjahr. Matthias Müller, President of the Young Liberals and still at the beginning of his political career, particularly admired Maurer’s closeness to the people.

But now one is also looking forward to Maurer’s successor – and expressed cautious criticism of today’s body: “It must be a person who fits well into the collegiate government,” said SP National Councilor Flavia Wasserfallen. GLP National Councilor Kathrin Bertschy agreed: “The departmental thinking is currently very pronounced, the Federal Council must work together again.”

The guests in the “Arena”


open box
close the box

  • Flavia WaterfallsNational Councilor SP/BE;
  • Diana GutyearNational Councilor SVP/TG;
  • Catherine Bertschy, National Councilor GLP/BE; and
  • Matthew MuellerPresident Virgins

Moderated by Sandro Brotz.

“For the SVP, there could definitely be a woman in the Federal Council,” said Bertschy, thus initiating the transition to the main topic of the program: equality between men and women and the question of how the situation of women will continue in the 2nd pillar must.

Record deep gender gap

Because the women lost the vote: two-thirds rejected the AHV reform. Two-thirds of the men, on the other hand, accepted it. Never before has there been such a deep gender gap in a vote.

The day after the vote, a group of left-wing women vented their anger at a protest and threatened to go on strike.

Equality has been achieved.

“It is undemocratic,” said SVP National Councilor Diana Gutjahr, “if you claim on Monday after the vote that the minority is right”. The decision of the electorate should be accepted. “The left manifests the victim role of women,” Gutjahr continued. The women must finally free themselves from this. Because: “Equality has been achieved.”

It needs the pressure from the street.

“Of course I accept the democratic result,” said Flavia Wasserfallen, who herself took part in the protest. But it is also legitimate to keep up the pressure. The disappointment after the vote was great: “The women pay the burden.”

Solution required for pension gap

It is only logical that the promises to solve the problem of the pension gap and wage inequality in a different way should now also be demanded. “We wouldn’t have women’s suffrage if there hadn’t always been pressure from the street.” The template has drawn multiple trenches through Switzerland. Not only women, but generally people with low incomes rejected the bill.

Instead of bourgeois and left-wing women attacking each other, it was time to bring the discussion back to a substantive level, GLP National Councilor Kathrin-Bertschy tried to calm things down. If Bertschy has his way, those measures for which there is consensus should be implemented immediately in the reform of the second pillar in order to close the pension gap. Because women not only have lower wages, they are also less well insured than men in working life.

She sees concrete measures, among other things, in lowering the entry threshold into the pension fund or the abolition of the coordination deduction – this way, smaller incomes would also be better insured. In addition, obstacles that make it difficult for women to return to work must be removed.

“Adapting the AHV to today’s circumstances was a necessary step,” said Matthias Müller. It is now necessary to make adjustments in the second pillar in order to improve the situation not only for women but also for boys, who often work in the low-wage sector or part-time.

Disagreement as to whether equality is practiced

He also criticized the fact that the left is always only concerned with the first pillar; she is actually demanding the “People’s Pension”. Switzerland knows a three-pillar system. “Nobody in Switzerland has to make do with the AHV alone.” In addition to the BVG and the 3rd pillar, there are also supplementary benefits that would benefit those who do not have enough to live on.

Gender equality has been enshrined in the constitution since 1981. But the opinions of the guests differed widely as to whether it is actually lived today. While the bourgeois politicians consider equality to be largely achieved, the left-wing politicians still see massive potential for improvement.

source site-72