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Criticism of the quarantine, majority against Blocher’s pension: that’s what the Sunday press writes
The high number of people who don’t like vaccines in Switzerland, the economy’s call for a loosening of quarantine regulations and the growing criticism of the text on the EU framework agreement – you can find this and more in the Sunday newspapers.
Coronavirus-related topics
Deep willingness to vaccinate against Corona
The willingness to get vaccinated against the coronavirus is low in Switzerland. This was the result of a representative survey by Tamedia, which the “SonntagsZeitung” published today. According to this, only 54 percent of the Swiss would be vaccinated against the virus.
Only 54 percent of the Swiss would be vaccinated against the corona virus. Image: keystone
That is not enough to create herd immunity and stop the epidemic. Manuel Battegay, a member of the federal Covid Working Group and chief physician of the Infectious Diseases and Hospital Hygiene Clinic of the Basel University Hospital, is calling for an awareness campaign. Willingness to vaccinate can be increased by transparent information.
Demand for quarantine relief
Major Swiss business associations are calling for federal quarantine regulations to be relaxed. The ten-day quarantine should be shortened or abolished entirely. A shortening would be justifiable from a health point of view, quoted “NZZ am Sonntag” Daniella Lützelschwab from the Swiss Employers Association.
Time is short. The trade association is honking the same horn. The frequent absence of employees is an additional burden for small and medium-sized companies that is difficult to bear in the crisis. Economiesuisse also points out the high economic costs caused by quarantine.
Banks demand security for Covid-19 loans
As part of its aid program, the federal government provides the Swiss economy with Covid-19 loans with guarantees. The federal government guarantees 85 percent of loans from 0.5 to 20 million Swiss francs. Banks are at risk for the remaining 15 percent.
Now, according to the “SonntagsZeitung”, clients report that banks are demanding a broad guarantee for their participation in order not to suffer losses in the event of bankruptcy. Business owners who urgently need money for their businesses must inject new capital or provide personal loans. In the event of bankruptcy, it is not the lender who recovers the money, but the bank. The banks are insured, but the taxpayer is not.
According to the HSG economist, short-time work was exaggerated
HSG economist Reto Föllmi, who specializes in foreign trade, cautions against too much government aid. The extension of the reduced working day to 18 months granted in the wake of the crown crisis was exaggerated, Föllmi said in an interview with “NZZ am Sonntag.”
Short-term work allows employees to stay in industries facing structural change. Rather than stick to their jobs, employees in travel agencies, restaurants, or the event industry should look for alternatives. Switzerland must maintain a sense of proportion while continuing to cope with the economic crisis. If state aid were expanded to a kind of comprehensive insurance, private initiatives would be eliminated.
Other themes
EU pressure should not be overstated
Following the rejection of the SVP limitation initiative by the Swiss people, attention turned to the framework agreement with the EU. Above all, the president of the EU Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is pressing. This pressure should not be overestimated, as Hans-Ulrich Bigler, Director of the Swiss Trade Association, said in an interview with the “SonntagsBlick”.
Hans-Ulrich Bigler. Image: keystone
The association still considers a framework agreement necessary. However, the current text cannot be a majority. According to “SonntagsZeitung”, there is an idea in the federal administration to save the agreement: wage protection and social security issues must be protected from the adoption of European law.
Levrat questions the second position of senior vice president in the Federal Council
The outgoing chairman of the SP party, Christian Levrat, paints a different picture of the political situation in the “NZZ am Sonntag” than when he was elected in the spring of 2008. Unlike in the 1990s, the SVP can no longer manage the FDP. There was no need to fear the Senior Vice President anymore.
Christian Levrat. Image: keystone
Looking to the second senior vice president job on the Federal Council, Levrat wonders if the senior vice president is still capable of governing. The SVP does not accept the separation of powers and recommends its own federal judge to vote. Looking back at his presidium, Levrat said self-critically that he should have sought more contact with social movements, namely the climate youth. The failure of the framework agreement with the EU is not a drama.
Cyber attacks on Swiss universities
Cybercriminals have successfully attacked Swiss universities. They managed to divert salary transfers, according to the “SonntagsZeitung”.
The perpetrators used login details obtained through phishing. They have penetrated the university system and changed the receivers’ accounts for the payment of salaries.
According to the Basel prosecutor’s office, a six-figure amount was stolen. At least three Swiss universities are affected, including the University of Basel. The culprit has yet to be determined. The Swissuniversities association sent a warning email.
Replacing meat with vegan options is not enough
The business of vegan products is booming in Switzerland. Consequently, the food industry is in a tremendous state of flux. Investors are pouring billions into plant-based groceries and lab meat.
According to a study published by “NZZ am Sonntag”, as a result of climate change, in 20 years we will not be consuming even half of the meat that today. But it is not enough to replace meat with vegan alternatives. Only if milk consumption decreases will CO2 emissions from animal husbandry decrease, said Ian Roberts, chief technologist at the Bühler Group. Eating vegan is becoming commonplace right now.
Large majority against payment of Blocher’s pension
Three-quarters (74 percent) of the Swiss are against the fact that former federal councilor Christoph Blocher should pay his pension retroactively. According to a Tamedia poll, which was published by the Sunday newspaper Le Matin Dimanche in western Switzerland, only 44 percent of the SVP is in favor of paying a pension to Blocher; 49 percent are against it.
Christoph Blocher. Photo: trapezoidal
The rejection of the other parties is even more pronounced. The Green Liberals reject the subsequent payment of a pension to Blocher with 87 percent, followed by the SP with also (87 percent), the Greens (85 percent), the CVP (79 percent) and the FDP (77 percent). hundred). In terms of age, people over 65 are more skeptical than the younger generation. (sda)
