Corona Policy in National Council – “Corona Extraordinary Session” Ends Extremely Quick – News

• The National Council held a special debate on the crown on Tuesday morning.
• These were initiatives that should influence the direction of the Federal Council to overcome the crisis.
• Most of the attempts are already out of date. The debate ended just under an hour.

Most of the measures refer to the economic impact of the pandemic. With a motion presented at the end of May, the Social Security and Health Commission (SGK) of the National Council asks that the extended allowances for reduced work be continued until mid-September. The Federal Council allowed the measure to expire on May 31.

“We are very sorry that now we can only discuss the initiative,” said Commission spokeswoman Mattea Meyer (SP / ZH). The demand for the motion would expire in a few days if it was accepted by the boards. However, the intention is to continue with the support for the months of June, July, August and the first fortnight of September.

The great chamber rejected the proposal by 97 votes to 93 and 5 abstentions. This is off the table. Now it is about regulating economic aid to SMEs and the self-employed in the best possible way within the framework of the Covid 19 Law, said Meyer. This will be addressed by both councils this week.

Wishes partially fulfilled

Other items on the agenda of the extraordinary session were withdrawn as they had been fulfilled. For example, SGK requested that the benefits of the Covid 19 regulation be extended until mid-September. The Federal Council met this requirement.

The National Counselor of Vaudois SP, Roger Nordmann, demanded with a new motion that the loss of jobs and travel should continue to be avoided as far as possible. In particular, he wanted to extend the duration of the short-time allowance. Nordmann also withdrew his application because, in the meantime, the Federal Council has extended the duration of the reduced work allowance from 12 to 18 months.

Continue with the help of freelancers

The SVP followed two approaches. The largest parliamentary group in parliament demanded with a motion that the self-employed who are directly affected also be supported, until the crown measures are lifted. The Federal Council rejected this in early July with reference to its decision to extend support until mid-September. However, the great hall accepted the motion by 147 votes to 35 and 13 abstentions.

“Chropfleerete” on Wednesday

There is an opportunity for general criticism and corrections in the debate on the Covid-19 law on Wednesday in the National Council. The law aims to transfer various emergency measures from the crown and the powers of the Federal Council to deal with the pandemic to common law. The discussion is expected to last several hours.

Although the Federal Council had based all support measures on the emergency law, the SVP parliamentary group also called for an end to the emergency law regime. This motion has also been superfluous: since June 19 the “special situation” has been in force, in which the cantons are in charge of crisis management. The National Council rejected the measure by 140 votes to 54 and one abstention.

In the Council of States, there is an extraordinary crown session on similarly worded proposals on the agenda on Wednesday. This should be just as spectacular on stage.