Relief package: Cantons with half -hearted savings proposals

The federal savings package is at the expense of the cantons, they complain. They also felt over. Now they are at least partially signaling dialogue.

Spared suggestions became from the announced alternative savings proposals. The conference of the cantonal governments (KDK) suggests the federal government to save more on the federal administration. The program agreements in the environmental area should also be « implemented more efficiently ». And costs should be saved in the asylum area. Among other things through faster asylum procedures and « better defense against illegal migration ». These are not particularly original approaches.

Following the planned relief package of the federal government, the KDK had put itself on its hind legs and complained that too many of the Federal Council would be at the expense of them. Minor expenses at the federal level would lead to additional expenses among the cantons. That is not possible, said the KDK and announced that it would show the federal government, where it could save money instead.

Upon request, the President of the KDK, Aargau’s financial director Markus Dieth (center), becomes at least a little more specific. Among other things, he calls wages to the federal staff who are too high in comparison to the private sector. The Federal Council itself must calculate how much savings volume can be generated from the proposals brought in.

Were there any other suggestions?

For comparison: With the relief package, the federal government, led by Federal President and Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter in 2027, wants to save around 2.7 billion and a year later 3.6 billion francs. Dieth does not want to say whether further savings proposals were discussed in the KDK, but which have not found a majority. The meetings are confidential.

In many points, the federal and cantons remain on a confrontation course. Dieth emphasizes that the financial equalization should not be saved. Furthermore, the cantons continue to reject relief measures « which lead to a large load shift to the cantons and municipalities, as is the case, for example, in the asylum area for the flat -rate compensation for the accommodation of refugees, » said Dieth.

But he also signals readiness for discussion. « With the other measures in the size of just more than one billion francs, the cantons are now looking for dialogue, » said Dieth. The ball lies with the Federal Council. The latter would do well not to « strike the outstretched hand », as the President of the KDK says.

The cantons as the motor of economic development

This is exactly what the state government’s cantons accuse. This had taken the now proposed savings measures without getting the stands on board. The cantons have signaled their willingness to dialogue several times: « Unfortunately, the Federal Council has never seriously entered this offer, which caused a lot of trouble in our ranks. »

That sounds like some broken dishes. And the KDK not only wants to deliver putty, but also threatens to get too little hearing in the event that it continues to find too – at least quietly. « Depending on the course of the talks with the Federal Council, the cantons reserve the right to actively contribute in the parliamentary phase and make their position clear to the relief measures, » says the message

Dieth also defends itself against the widespread image that the cantons are financially better than the federal government. «The idea that all cantons are financially well is wrong. Some fight with deficits and put together extensive savings packages, »says the top Kantönler. If the federal government now puts on additional loads, it will be to the damage everyone. « Only if the cantons have sufficient means can they invest in a targeted manner in their location attractiveness and perceive their function as engines of economic development, » says Dieth confidently.

Now the series is back at the Federal Council. Many of the federal federal saving measures are already in the head. It will be a hot savings in Bern.