Swiss Military Budget Boost Sparks Debate

Published: 2024-12-05

The Swiss National Council has approved a significant increase in the military budget, raising it by 530 million francs to a total of 6.4 billion francs for the coming year.

This decision, supported by the SVP, FDP, and the Centre, marks a 12% increase from the current budget.

Finance Minister Karin Keller-Sutter expressed concerns, arguing that such a move could lead to tax hikes and lacks planning security.

The decision aims to restore the army's defense capabilities, with plans to further increase the budget to 8.4 billion francs by 2028. However, the move has faced opposition from the SP, Greens, and Green Liberals, who unanimously voted against the increase.