Voting in the Canton of Zurich – SVP’s tax proposal narrowly fails due to key question – News


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The party wanted to increase tax deductions with an initiative. In the end, however, the counter-proposal won the race.

It was a close race until the end. The electorate accepted the so-called justice initiative of the SVP with over 51 percent. But the cantonal council’s counter-proposal also passed the ballot box.

“Justice Initiative”

Canton of Zurich: popular initiative “Create justice – adapt health insurance premium deduction to reality”

  • YES

    140,632
    Voices

  • NO

    134,665
    Voices

counterproposal

Canton of Zurich: counter-proposal to the “Justice Initiative”

  • YES

    148,709
    Voices

  • NO

    121,480
    Voices

The key question was therefore crucial. For a long time it looked as if the justice initiative would prevail. It would have been a sensation – after all, only SVP and EDU fought for the proposal. In the end, however, 50.1 percent of those eligible to vote preferred the counter-proposal. Only 700 votes made the difference.

Supporters and opponents rejoice

However, the SVP does not see itself on the losing side. “First and foremost, I’m happy about the double yes,” says SVP cantonal councilor Stefan Schmid. He noted that the counter-proposal had prevailed. “In any case, there are now higher tax deductions for Zurich residents.”

The SVP initiative called for a deduction of 3,600 francs for health insurance premiums in the tax return for adults. That would have been 1000 francs more than today. For children, the deduction would have increased by 200 francs.

The counter-proposal, which the cantonal council has drawn up, only provides for slightly higher tax deductions for adults. You can now deduct 300 francs more for your health insurance premiums.

“The counter-proposal is a compromise that was also supported by the government,” says Hans-Jakob Boesch, President of the Zurich FDP. He is satisfied with the voting result. “The deductions are more moderate. That’s why the communities supported the counter-proposal.” This was probably the decisive factor in the key question.

Legend:

Due to the rising health insurance premiums, the initiative is necessary, said the SVP in the run-up to the vote.

Keystone/Geatan Bally

In addition to the FDP, the EVP and the center also fought for the counter-proposal. Because acceptance of the justice initiative would have meant a drop in revenue of CHF 150 million each for the canton and municipalities.

“Insufficient financial resources,” says SP

SP, Greens, AL and GLP, on the other hand, rejected both proposals. They argued that it was primarily high-income households that would benefit from the tax deductions.

According to SP Cantonal Councilor Harry Brandenberger, the fact that they were not heard at the ballot box is due to the voting campaign. «The No Committee was not very visible. We didn’t have enough financial resources to get the double no among the people with a large poster campaign analogous to the SVP.” However, the SP is happy that the tax losses are now less high than the justice initiative envisaged.

Result is not definitive yet

The counter-proposal will result in around 90 million francs less in tax revenue for the canton and municipalities. The counter-proposal is expected to come into force on January 1, 2024.

However, the result is not yet definitive. Because it was so close, the Zurich government council is dealing with it. He will probably decide on Wednesday whether further clarifications are needed.

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