MPs from the Council of States and National Council will focus on some important issues, both outstanding and new, hoping to resolve them before the current session ends on March 21st.
Among than are:
Family reunification
Naturalised citizens are not treated equally to citizens of EU and EFTA (Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein) states with regards to family reunification of relatives from third countries.
This is what the Council of States has already decided in previous sessions, and a narrow majority of the National Council committee in charge of this topic no longer wants to support changes to the existing legislation either.
The National Council will be dealing with this matter for the second time this spring.
This is what's at stake:
READ ALSO: Switzerland rejects move to ease family reunification rules for naturalised Swiss citizens
Pension provisions
From the end of 2026, retirees in Switzerland are supposed to receive a 13th monthly pension, as approved by voters in a 2024 referendum.
The Federal Council has created a payment model, which was accepted by both chambers of the parliament — "a supplement paid each year to retirees alive at the beginning of December 2026."
However, it is still unclear how the 13th AHV pension is to be financed.
The responsible committee of the Council of States is looking into this part of the implementation process in more detail during this session.
Health costs
The Federal Council wants to save 250 million francs per year by introducing networks for coordinated healthcare, seen as a way to reduce unnecessary medical services.
However, the Council of States committee in charge of this subject no longer sees these networks, which they consider to be "bureaucratic monsters," as viable options.
MPs will weigh in on this issue again in the current session.
Taxes
A decision on the individual taxation, regardless of marital status, is expected during the spring session.
As the National Council already had in previous sessions, the Council of States will now tackle this change to the existing legislation.
Though its committee had already taken up the proposal and accepted it by a narrow margin in the overall vote, it wants to make several further changes.
READ ALSO: Is Switzerland moving closer to new tax system for married couples?
Security
The Federal Council wants to put a national system for recording flight passenger data into operation from 2026, thus bringing it into line with numerous foreign states.
In future, the data should be automatically compared with police information systems in order to better combat terrorism and serious crime.
The National Council has already said yes to this, and the Council of States is now discussing the proposal but is expected to follow the other chamber’s lead.
Cash
The National Council is debating whether and —if so — how the article on money and currency in the Constitution should be amended.
The reason for this is the popular initiative launched by the Swiss Movement for Freedom, called "Yes to an independent, free Swiss currency with coins or banknotes (cash is freedom)," and a direct counter-proposal of the Federal Council.
The government wants to take up the initiative's concerns and write existing legal provisions into the Constitution —specifically, stating that the National Bank must guarantee the country's supply of cash.
READ ALSO: Why is Switzerland making cash a constitutional right?
What else is on the agenda this spring?
Deputies will also focus on issues like tobacco advertising, federal funding for agriculture, climate issues, renewable energy, compulsory ‘citizen’ service for Swiss nationals, as well as corporate takeovers.
But perhaps the most important task the deputies will undertake during the current session is the election, on March 12th, of a new minister to take over the post of Defence Department head Viola Amherd, who will be stepping down from the Federal Council on March 31st.
MPs will choose one of the two candidates from Amherd’s Centre Party — Markus Ritter or Martin Pfister.
Comments