Pascal Stirnimann criticizes despondent official directors

The federal financial control monitors how efficient the federal government deals with taxpayers. At the presentation of the annual report, her director Pascal Stirnimann found clear words in view of the upcoming savings round.

He is, to a certain extent, the Elon Musk in Switzerland. His task: to ensure that the federal government uses the taxpayers’ tax money as efficiently as possible. Its means: not the chainsaw, with which entire administrative departments are cut down as with Musk. But meticulous test reports on the activities of the federal government, its companies and the bodies affiliated to him. His name: Pascal Stirnimann, director of the Federal Financial Control (EFK).

On Tuesday, Stirnimann stepped up to the media. He presented the 2024 annual report of financial control. The 142 EFK employees carried out 160 exams last year. 375 You have followed up with references to whistleblovers. 75 test reports were published.

A billion funding without effect

Financial control found great savings potential in her work. The EFK director at the media conference gave some examples. For example, the funding in the federal building program of around CHF 3.6 billion.

There, “significant take -away effects of around 50 percent” were found. In other words, the funds flowed for energetic conversions, which the respective homeowners would have realized from the program without the stubborn. «With one billion francs less from the building program, the same CO would have₂-Reductions can be achieved, »says Stirnimann.

Another example: the physics laboratory HPQ of the ETH Zurich, which should be available from 2030. According to the financial control, the project competition for the 339 million construction project, according to financial control, hardly played a role. « The winning project was one of the most uneconomical at the highest costs, » criticized Stirnimann.

District directors should critically question existing ones

In view of the savings package planned by the Federal Council, an efficient use of funds is all the more important, the director of financial control emphasizes: « From our point of view, these measures are good, but the persons affected are strongly resistance. » The EFK also notices this if your recommendations for possible savings are not implemented or only delayed.

In terms of character, Pascal Stirnimann is not a guy like Elon Musk. He emphasizes several times that it is ultimately a political decision, for which tax funds are used. Overall, the cooperation with the federal administration works well: « The administration wants to improve, we have a high standard in Switzerland. »

Nevertheless, in conversation with CH Media by department heads, Stirnimann demands « more courage to toast changes and to question existing criticism, especially when checking subsidies ». Many are often too scared because they did not want to expose themselves to critical questions.

Insufficient transparency rules for political financing

The financial control has been responsible for the implementation of the new transparency rules for political financing since 2022. The Federal Council and Parliament have determined this.

The EFK would like to get rid of this task – at least under today’s framework. She has informed the Federal Office of Justice as part of an ongoing evaluation.

Director Pascal Stirnimann gives the reasons for this: the EFK controls the handling of public funds as the supervisory authority. In the case of political financing, she is an enforcement authority in dealing with private donations: « This questions our independence. »

In the donation register she led, the financial control must publish the numbers, as reported by parties, coordination committees and candidates. However, it can only check their accuracy in line with random and subsequently.

If financial control discovers mistakes, it forbids the law to inform the public about it. « We are forced to publish non -validated and potentially incorrect numbers, » says Stirnimann. This contradicts the claim of financial control.