SP and Mitte have brought through two initiatives in the National Council, which should strengthen purchasing power in the coming year – and would cost a lot. In an interview, SP co-president Cédric Wermuth comments on the criticism that the measures are unnecessary and that the federal government cannot afford them.
SRF News: “Never let a crisis go by unused,” Churchill is said to have said. Has the SP set this as a goal in the looming energy crisis?
Cédric Wermuth: No, I don’t think this is about the SP. Too low pensions and rising health insurance premiums have been a problem for the people in this country for years. The crisis is exacerbating that. It was important to us to send out a clear signal to the population today with the middle: we are there in the crisis.
Together with the middle of the National Council, you have pushed through two initiatives: for a complete cost-of-living compensation for the AHV and a higher premium reduction next year. However, the Federal Council says it is not necessary to do anything. Are you just campaigning?
I am astonished to note that the Federal Council thinks that large electricity companies need to be rescued – and rightly so – but it fails to see that the situation is difficult for the population as well. We all know that health insurance premiums will rise and that there will be inflation. This week there were numbers: That can amount to up to a month’s income in a household. That’s why we have to take countermeasures now.
These figures come from the SP-affiliated trade union federation. But inflation in Switzerland is currently 3.5 percent. That is three to six times lower than in other countries in Europe. Compared to other countries, the demand is not that great.
It is now necessary to ensure that inflation does not become the straw that breaks the camel’s back.
That’s correct if you just hang it on inflation. But the situation for Swiss households, families and pensioners has been difficult in recent years. It is therefore now necessary to ensure that inflation does not become the last straw that breaks the camel’s back.
The initiatives are also aimed at 2023, but they could only be implemented from 2025 – because laws have to be changed.
No, that’s faster too. In the Corona crisis and with the rescue package, Switzerland proved that you can act much faster if you want to. And we expect, if the Council of States agrees to the proposals, that the Federal Council will come up with a proposal before the end of the year.
The push to reduce premiums alone would cost around CHF 1 billion. The Finance Minister said today that a deficit of CHF 5 billion is expected in 2025. How is the federal government supposed to pay for this?
Consumption accounts for 60 percent of the gross domestic product in Switzerland. If the purchasing power of households collapses now, we will have a real problem. Then comes the economic crisis. People are afraid of the increase in premiums, they are afraid of heating costs and inflation. That’s why we have to send out a signal in the economic sense and say: We support the purchasing power in this country.
If the purchasing power of households collapses now, we will have a real problem.
You have to go into a crisis with stability and trust, we learned that at Corona. The fact that the government does not take this lesson with it into the next crisis worries me a bit.
However, the highest increase in costs is in transport and heating. The SVP proposes starting with the mineral oil tax. Why don’t you want to take part?
Other countries have done this exercise. Look at Germany. The only thing that has emerged is an explosion in margins for the oil companies. Little has reached the people.
The conversation was led by Larissa Rhyn.