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pandemic
Restaurants will open soon: national councilors want to take the reins of the Federal Council
The economic commission of the National Council is taking the easing measures too slowly. That is why they want to act now and force the Federal Council to open up.
If the Economic Commission of the National Council has its way, the restaurants could open as of March 22, inside and out.
Parliament is back. If the people’s representatives retrospectively approved the Federal Council’s crown resolutions in recent months, there is growing evidence that the National Council and the Council of States want to help shape crown policy more actively.
Linked to this is a clear criticism of the current pandemic course of the state government. “In general, the Federal Council did a good job. Due to too many contradictions, there has now been widespread resistance, even in the cantons, ”says Andrea Gmür, leader of the Mitte parliamentary group.
The Economic Commission wants a muzzle for the Covid task force
It has been a thorn in the side of some federal councilors for a long time. The scientific working group speaks out regularly and often does not represent the government’s position, but advocates stricter measures. Now, the Economic Commission of the National Council wants only the Federal Council and Parliament to inform the public about the Covid-19 measures, not the working group. The Commission decided on Friday with 13 votes to 10. The “media cacophony” must end, said FDP national adviser Marcel Dobler (SG). The commission’s decision sparked outrage on social media under the keyword muzzle. SP Co-Chair Mattea Meyer described it as “extremely dangerous.” “If the facts contradict your own ideology, you try to muzzle the experts,” renowned climate researcher Reto Knutti wrote on Twitter. “If science does not classify, others with personal, economic or political interests will give their interpretations.” Politicians do not have to stick to the recommendations of the task force. “But she has to endure the speech.” (lfh)
The most recent example is the economic commission of the national council. He wants to take the reins from the Federal Council and move forward with the vacancies. Restaurants, gyms and cultural institutions should open on March 22. The commission wants to write this in the Covid law, which is being discussed in the spring session that is now beginning. It was “in view of the positive development not to be responsible for keeping social and economic life in the background,” the commission said Saturday.
SP criticizes: MPs “pose as health experts”
After a seemingly emotional discussion, the decision was tight; with twelve against eleven votes. In addition, the commission asks the Federal Council to lift the five-person indoors rule with immediate effect. As of March 22, the Federal Council intends to consider opening the outdoor areas of the restaurants. If the opening is too fast, there is a risk of a yo-yo effect, said Federal President Guy Parmelin in an interview with “Switzerland at the weekend.”
The SP is skeptical that parliament now wants to help shape the current policy of the Federal Council. The party criticizes the fact that the commissioners “would act as health experts” and limit the government’s room for maneuver. Now it is impossible to predict what the epidemiological situation will be like in a few weeks. LPG National Advisor Martin Bäumle warns on Twitter that the commission may be responsible for the third wave. And the president of the Greens, Balthasar Glättli, speaks of the disempowerment of the Federal Council “by the bourgeois parliamentary majority.”
The central parliamentary group wants to relax, but not to tie the hands of the Federal Council
The position of the center will be decisive. Parliamentary group leader Andrea Gmür supports demands for faster opening steps. The Lucerne State Councilor says:
“Now we need a strategy shift towards more relaxation, more testing and vaccination and a push towards digitization. We have to think about needy SMEs and young people. ”
The situation is no longer the same as a year ago, when the health system was on the brink of collapse. However, she says: “I am convinced that the majority of the group will not support the motion.” Because it is the wrong path: Parliament should not include initial steps in the law. The Federal Council should continue to make current decisions based on the benchmarks, Gmür said.
Therefore, your parliamentary group supports a statement from the National Council to the Federal Council initiated by Martin Landolt, a member of the Central National Council, calling for it to relax more quickly. This also calls for a change in strategy, but “without tying the hands of the Federal Council,” Gmür said.
