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The National Council decides to join
There is a vote: Parliament passes 173 to 18 votes in favor of the Covid-19 law.
Now continue with the detailed tips. You can follow them on the live stream above. We hereby end our live ticker. Thank you very much!
Green Liberals for Subduing and Strengthening Democracy
Melanie Mettler (GLP / BE) for the Green Liberal Parliamentary Group: The law will once again lay the foundations of democracy. It is up to parliament to continue to play an active role in the “three pillars of democracy,” Mettler said. Otherwise, you will lose the confidence of the population.
On the practical level, it has two main tasks to tackle, says the National Councilor. In other words, avoid overloading the health system and avoid a recession. It is not a task to create “comprehensive insurance”, but you have to make sure that you can generate added value. A compromise has been reached with other self-employed groups, said the green liberal politician.
François Pointet (GLP / VD) appeals to the Federal Council so that measures to combat the virus are also “proportionate” in the future.
FDP is also in favor
Andri Silberschmidt (FDP / ZH) speaks for the FDP-Liberals parliamentary group. He points out that a large majority of people in Switzerland are in favor of the above policy on the crown crisis. Do not forget that when, as a parliamentarian, you receive many letters and emails from skeptical people.
The FDP wants to respect the law because measures to combat it receive democratic legitimacy. Since parliament does not meet all the time, it is important that the government has the authority to react quickly. In addition, the optional referendum, to which the law is subject, and the parliamentary audit commission receive greater democratic legitimacy.
It is also important to mention that this law does not introduce a mandatory vaccination, as stated in many places. Vaccination is regulated in the epidemic law that was accepted by the people.
Green: the template needs to be corrected in several places
Léonore Porchet (Greens / VD) also spoke on behalf of the Green Group. However, one would like to correct the submission of the Federal Council on several points, for example, they would like more participation of parliamentary committees or financial support for the care of children beyond the family.
Green parliamentary group by law, but with more financial aid
According to Manuela Weichelt-Picard (AL / ZG), many people want to return to normality; it is important to hear these voices. Therefore, the Greens supported a “prudent approach”. Therefore, the Greens are in favor. The law allows the economic consequences of the fight against the pandemic to be assumed. With the Covid Law, the parliament is once again taking the reins into its own hands and giving the Federal Council the framework of its importance for democracy, according to Zug’s national adviser.
The middle parliamentary group is also in favor of the law “if it stays thin”
Christian Lohr, from the CVP / EPP / BDP middle parliamentary group, recalls that the constitutional mandate of the Federal Council is to protect the health of the population. He did that too and it worked quite well. The Covid 19 law gives the Federal Council the opportunity to continue reacting.
“Our group is in favor of this law, if it stays thin.” In particular, it must also be ensured that the burden on social services does not pass all costs on to future generations.
It is also crucial for your parliamentary group to support the law that the law will be limited in time. There are also many industries that have not yet received any support. This needs to be addressed now. There is an app about it.
Of course, restrictions on the basic rights of the population are not wanted. It requires as much personal responsibility as possible. But: “A second blockade must be avoided at all costs.” It is important that the municipalities and cantons become more closely involved and that the population is well informed.
The SP wants to intervene and demands more help for the low-income
Mattea Meyer (SP / ZH) spoke on behalf of the SP Group. She says that the crisis continues, it is a fact. Since the measures expire next week, this law is absolutely necessary. The Federal Council must retain the competence to react quickly.
But above all it is important that the self-employed continue to receive support, especially those who are still waiting for money. “Are we ready to ensure the existence of tens of thousands?” In addition, compensation for short-term work will be increased to 100 percent for low-income workers. Only with this type of compensation can SME bankruptcies be prevented and people supported.
Pierre-Yves Maillard also speaks on behalf of the SP’s parliamentary group and on minority motions to the law. They will step in and support the law. Because you also have to think about the damage to the economy caused by this crisis. The union president speaks of a “social emergency”. Measures in the law would help prevent even more costly long-term effects, such as unemployment.
The SVP parliamentary group calls for a return to “constitutional order”
Thomas de Courten (SVP / BL) speaks for the SVP parliamentary group. Since late March, his party has been demanding that the emergency restrictions not be permanent. According to de Courten, constitutional rights were seriously distorted during the pandemic measures. The dreaded overload of the health system, which was the reason for the emergency measures, did not occur. In the meantime, he has learned a lot and now everyone is ready for a possible second wave. We must abandon the “obsolete strategy” in the fight against the virus. However, the SVP will face the law. The return to ordinary life should be successful, but with only a few measures of the emergency law. You don’t need additional wishes, you need an orderly exit, the group’s spokesman said.
The State Political Commission advocates for the defense
Ruth Humbel (CVP / AG) speaks as president of the State Political Commission of the National Council for promotion. The purpose of the law is to convert ordinances into law. She insists that the law none Mandatory vaccination provides. The Commission was 18: 6 in favor of the promotion and requested certain changes. Therefore, a fine cannot be imposed on someone who violates the law by negligence.
Jean-Luc Addor (SVP / VS) and Pirmin Schwander (SVP / SZ) refused to accept and reject the application. “The law only creates measures in relation to the Covid 19 crisis and does not grant the Federal Council any new power,” emphasizes Humbel. In addition, the law has an expiration clause, which will expire at the end of 2021.
Health Commission to Enter Debate
The rapporteur of the National Council Health Commission, Philippe Nantermod (FDP / VS), once again summarizes what the law contains. You need the law, that’s indisputable. Entry to the debate was decided unanimously in the Commission. However, there are two individual entries that either want to reject the law or do not want to enter it. The Commission did not examine the two individual applications. Philippe Nantermod points out, however, that the Federal Council’s emergency ordinances would expire whether they were rejected or not, because they automatically end after 6 months. Therefore, it is imperative to step into the bill to win the “fight against the virus” by the end of 2021.
The advocacy debate on the Covid-19 law begins
In the advocacy debate, the commission reporters have 10 minutes to present their point of view. The representatives of the political groups each have 10 minutes to speak and, finally, 20 minutes for the Federal Council. Two individual applications have also been reported.
The detailed consultation of the Covid-19 law will probably last all day if it happens. A marathon debate is expected for several hours. The Pre-Counseling Health Commission (SGK) made numerous changes to the Federal Council draft. Over the course of the day, around thirty minority applications and as many individual applications will be discussed.
With the Covid-19 law, various emergency measures of the crown, for example, in medical care, in court proceedings or in the financing of the media, will be transferred to common law. Some see democracy in jeopardy as a result. Even before parliamentary deliberation, skeptics in the crown are vigorously fighting the bill. A referendum has already been announced. In the political-state assessment, activists are supported by several prominent constitutional lawyers.
We will broadcast the debate live here until 5pm.
The content of the law at a glance
The invoice , The link opens in a new windowestablishes, derived from various provisions of the Emergency Ordinance, the following special powers of the Federal Council.
- Health care: The Federal Council can oblige the various actors to report on important medical products or take steps to supply them to the population. It can also authorize the cantons to take further measures to ensure hospital capacity.
- Employee protection: The state government can order measures to protect particularly affected workers and regulate their financing.
- Foreigners and Asylum Area: The Federal Council can, among other things, restrict the entry of foreigners into Switzerland.
- Justice: To ensure the functioning of the judiciary, the Federal Council may issue provisions that deviate from the usual procedural modalities. You can also take special steps in bankruptcy law to prevent massive bankruptcies.
- Culture: The Federal Council can support cultural workers and cultural companies with special financial aid within the framework of the law.
- Media: The Federal Council can Support the media industry financially, at the latest until an independent media promotion package takes effect.
- Unemployment and loss of earnings insurance: The Federal Council may change individual provisions on reduced-time work or provide additional compensation for lost income.
Welcome!
The National Council will discuss the so-called Covid-19 law around 9:30 am today. We are accompanying the debate live on SRF 1, on livestream and ticker.
