Transparency Yes, but no one wants to be the First

The election of 2019 will be expensive: FDP, CVP, SP, Green, GLP and the BDP want to spend 8.5 million francs. The SVP is known, no Figures. It is likely to be several million. In order for the parties chasing voters want to vote alone on a national level, well over 10 million to invest. The expenses of the cantonal parties and the Candidates. Everything indicates that this year one of the most expensive election campaigns of the Swiss history is likely to take place.

But where does the money come from, for the most part, stay in the dark. Except for SP and Greens, no one wants to publish Details of the election campaign financing. It is also the case of the Geneva Council of state, Pierre changes Maudet nothing that collected around 400'000 Swiss francs in donations and was suspected that he had made of the donors. Also, the transparency initiative, which calls for disclosure of donations over a amount of 10'000 Swiss francs, and the publication of detailed election budget, has not led to a change in Practice – although, in the meantime, politicians of almost all parties see a need for action and the Initiative want to make a counter-proposal.

The bourgeois parties to keep all the Details of your campaign budget under lock and key: own resources and especially the amount and origin of the donations will not be given in these elections. In the case of the SVP, even to the total expenditure, only speculation. Over 5 million Swiss francs will spend the people's party, want some knowledge. Is confirmed nothing.

GLP and the BDP want transparency – but not right now

The FDP, which wants to spend in front of four years and up to 3.5 million Swiss francs, of the Candidates in the "transparency" requirements that apply to them. "The election campaign is primarily a matter for the cantonal parties," said President Petra Gössi. It rejects the pending Initiative and stressed that the parties and the militia system of Switzerland lived from donations. "If we complicate our System unnecessarily, no one will be more willing to donate."

Similar to CVP-chief, Gerhard Pfister argues, whose party wants to spend 2 million francs up to a third more than four years ago. A good part of it is likely to come from donations. Where do these come from and how high you are, internally. Even the BDP, which is a member of the Committee of the transparency initiative, wants nothing to do with a voluntary Declaration in the current election campaign. "Up to the transparency initiative has been adopted, we want to playing by the rules change on our part," says President Martin Landolt.

image to enlarge

Also, the green liberals give themselves on the defensive, even though you have filed in the Parliament by advancing a counter-proposal to the transparency initiative. This requires that only parties to the group, receiving contributions, which create transparency. Voluntarily the GLP does not want to open their books. "As long as there are no rules that apply to all, we are not ready, the origin of our donations to be disclosed. Who wants to volunteer to do, to do that," says President Jürg Large.

SP and Green start, however, now even a new transparency offensive. The SP-tip has recently adopted a stricter fundraising rules and regulations that goes beyond the requirements of the transparency initiative. The party will publish its election campaign budget, which amounts to around 1.5 million Swiss francs. In addition to the disclosure requirements, the party and the candidates agree, that you do not accept donations which restrict the independence. In the case of the Green transparency are also provided recommendations for the applicant. The party, in addition, for several years, the ethics standards that go further than the Initiative. Larger donations, the Greens declare in their annual accounts. The election budget of the party amounts to only 150'000 Swiss francs.

Individual politicians from the bourgeois camp are now but also ready to provide data. FDP national councillor Thierry Burkart is running as a candidate in the Canton of Aargau for the Council of States and the financing of the election campaign of a President of the court monitor. The name of the donor, he does not want to be known. For this, he provides the statistics to the donated amounts. "I want to make sure that my campaign is not funded with money from dubious sources," says Burkart. "It is, of course, a reaction to the affair Maudet. As is clear from the outset that it goes with the right things."

Meanwhile, the Left are already planning tightening of the rules, which go beyond the transparency initiative. The SP does not require rules in order for campaign contributions to the private accounts of Candidates can land. "It needs rules, so that private money is clearly separated from election campaign money," says SP President Christian Levrat. Also, for the Bernese SP Council of States, Hans Stöckli, the led already fighting costly choice, it is clear that it takes a minimum of separate accounts and the final is to be submitted to the payroll of the party line.

Green demand a Declaration of income

The Greens want to enforce that in the future National and Ständeräte not only their mandates to identify, but also the compensation you receive. In the Council of Europe which is already required. In the next Session, the Greens will submit a proposal. "The transparency initiative is making an important contribution, but it is not sufficient," says President Regula Rytz. "People should know what politicians stand strong in what service."

For the matter to which he self-SVP-Nationalrat Alfred army sympathies. He is a member of the Council of Europe and has no problems, its income to be reported. Army disturbing, especially that the high compensation received by politicians in addition to mandates. "If someone like Magdalena Martullo-Blocher is a company, the salary anyone something. Someone gets but only because of his political office with a mandate, should be given compensation."

(Sunday newspaper)

Created: 26.01.2019, 22:40 PM