Contents
After the historic yes to a 13th AHV pension, the dispute over financing has broken out: increase wage percentages or VAT, save on development cooperation or work longer? Opinions in the “Arena” differ.
For the first time in the 130-year history of popular initiatives in Switzerland, the left has succeeded in winning over the population to expand the welfare state. From 2026, all pensioners will now receive a 13th AHV pension.
The citizens in the “Arena” agree: By accepting this initiative, the population has given politics a task and it must now be accepted. SP co-president Cédric Wermuth sees much more in this referendum: “It was not a left or right issue.”
The 13th AHV pension was not a left or right issue
He is of the opinion that Federal Bern has politicized past the population in recent years. With this yes at the ballot box, the Aargau National Council is now hoping for a turning point.
Self-criticism among the commoners
“We citizens have to look after our own noses,” admits SVP National Councilor Diana Gutjahr. The voting battles must be brought closer to the people and start earlier. Center Councilor Brigitte Häberli-Koller also criticized the No Committee: “The serious consequences of this initiative should have been addressed more.”
Federal Bern is now confronted with the consequences of the acceptance. Because the initiative text left the question of financing open. FDP Vice President Andri Silberschmidt requires the initiators to present proposals. Wermuth would like to generate the necessary funds by increasing the wage percentage: “Those who earn more have to pay in more. That’s the idea of the AHV.”
Wage labor should not be made more expensive, replies Silberschmidt: “With this yes, the purchasing power of the working population will be shifted to pensioners.” Silberschmidt further warns that the federal government should not get into debt. Unfortunately, it is therefore also necessary to make savings in other areas. However, the Zurich National Council will only offer support for an increase in VAT if structural measures are taken to restructure the AHV at the same time.
For Häberli-Koller, the question is which solution will hurt the population the least. “However, politicians will not be able to avoid increasing wage percentages or VAT,” said the centrist politician.
Now pensioners in Switzerland have to get their act together – Switzerland first
Diana Gutjahr rules out the option of increasing wage percentages or VAT. The woman from Thurgau prefers to make savings when it comes to money flowing abroad, for example in development cooperation. In addition, pension payments for Swiss pensioners living abroad must be reconsidered.
A lot of criticism of EDI head Baume-Schneider
Not only the result of the vote, but also the subsequent press conference by Elisabeth Baume-Schneider caused emotions: Häberli-Koller was astonished, Silberschmidt was disappointed and Gutjahr was even shocked by the appearance of the Minister of Social Affairs. They were all hoping to find out from the Federal Councilor how things should proceed.
Instead, Baume-Schneider gave the impression that he was not prepared for the scenario of the initiative being accepted. Diana Gutjahr also expects the Federal Council to work more quickly on the AHV dossier after the referendum.
There is a lack of will to lead among the bourgeois parties
All sorts of challenges await Baume-Schneider in the Interior Department. “With the 13th AHV pension and the upcoming votes on health insurance premiums, two of the population’s biggest concerns are currently coming together in the EDI,” says Michael Hermann, managing director of the Sotomo research institute.
Hermann doesn’t understand why the bourgeois did not claim the Interior Department as their own when the departments were distributed: “The bourgeois parties lack the will to lead.”