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Electoral Campaign Subjects. Part II, the Social Question : Sound Finances? Or Needs Satisfied?

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Electoral Campaign Subjects. Part II, the Social Question : Sound Finances? Or Needs Satisfied? Electoral campaign subjects. Part II, The social question : sound finances? Or needs satisfied? Autor(en): Tschanz, Pierre-André Objekttyp: Article Zeitschrift: Swiss review : the magazine for the Swiss abroad Band (Jahr): 25 (1998) Heft 6 PDF erstellt am: 01.10.2021 Persistenter Link: http://doi.org/10.5169/seals-907545 Nutzungsbedingungen Die ETH-Bibliothek ist Anbieterin der digitalisierten Zeitschriften. Sie besitzt keine Urheberrechte an den Inhalten der Zeitschriften. Die Rechte liegen in der Regel bei den Herausgebern. Die auf der Plattform e-periodica veröffentlichten Dokumente stehen für nicht-kommerzielle Zwecke in Lehre und Forschung sowie für die private Nutzung frei zur Verfügung. Einzelne Dateien oder Ausdrucke aus diesem Angebot können zusammen mit diesen Nutzungsbedingungen und den korrekten Herkunftsbezeichnungen weitergegeben werden. Das Veröffentlichen von Bildern in Print- und Online-Publikationen ist nur mit vorheriger Genehmigung der Rechteinhaber erlaubt. Die systematische Speicherung von Teilen des elektronischen Angebots auf anderen Servern bedarf ebenfalls des schriftlichen Einverständnisses der Rechteinhaber. Haftungsausschluss Alle Angaben erfolgen ohne Gewähr für Vollständigkeit oder Richtigkeit. Es wird keine Haftung übernommen für Schäden durch die Verwendung von Informationen aus diesem Online-Angebot oder durch das Fehlen von Informationen. Dies gilt auch für Inhalte Dritter, die über dieses Angebot zugänglich sind. Ein Dienst der ETH-Bibliothek ETH Zürich, Rämistrasse 101, 8092 Zürich, Schweiz, www.library.ethz.ch http://www.e-periodica.ch Federal Elections 1999 Electoral campaign subjects (II): the social question Sound finances? Or needs If any issue shows up the retirement must be fixed in a way that special characteristics of makes it possible to meet this extra cost" emphasises Suzette Sandoz, a each party, that issue is former liberal national councillor from social policy. The extent Vaud. and complexity of this question make it impossible The bourgeois party: to put the parties into consolidation A case by categories. In the the case has to be general, bourgeois parties put approach need to guarantee the financial future of adopted. the social insurance schemes at the head is nonetheless of one aspect "Poverty today affects Theresocial policy on which the parties are unanimous: making the above all young pensionable age flexible - "flexibilisation" families, particularly is the term used for this, one of the central single-parent families." elements of the Federal Council's URSULA HAFNER, SPS Pierre-André Tschanz of their list of priorities. The word they projected eleventh revision of the old bring up most often is consolidation - age pension system (AHV). Only the balancing the books. Maintaining what Labour Party stands apart. "Flexibility has been achieved and financial only benefits the rich" says national stringency are the key priorities for the SVP, councillor Christiane Jaquet-Berger the Liberal Democrats, the liberals and (PdA/VD). Flow should a reformed Maternity insurance - yes or no? indeed the CVP as well. But the CVP AHV be designed which achieves the one of the most disputed issues in stands out from the others in this group. need for flexibility in the retirement the field of social policy. It emphasises the need to look at the (Photo: Keystone) age, but takes social considerations into various elements of social insurance as account? a whole. "Flexibilisation of pensions ideal would be for everyone to be able to must be achieved through the second chose their own retirement age within a pillar, i.e. professional pension insurance Flexibilisation: yes, but... bracket ranging from 62 to 68, with of schemes", national councillor Norbert At this point there is already a parting of course a reduction in the pension paid for Hochreutner from Berne explains. the ways. Unanimity was only a facade. anyone taking payment earlier: "you can He stands however a long way apart The Swiss People's Party (SVP) emphasises only spend what you have". from the Labour Party which argues the need to put social insurance on a For their part the socialists, like the that old age insurance, disability, sound financial footing. Yes to Greens, call for retirement à la carte unemployment, sickness insurance and so on flexibilisation, explains Ulrich Schlüer, a SVP from the age of 62. On the right, the should all be grouped together in one Swiss Democrats too say that they single insurance scheme. favour the possibility of anticipating the "Flexibilisation of of the AHV pension down to payment Provision of basic needs pensions must be achieved the age of 62, the normal age being 65 through the second for them as also for the Freedom Party The Social Democratic Party too is pillar, i.e. professional (formerly the Motorists Party), for the headed in this direction, although taking pension insurance Evangelical People's Party, the Liberal a different path. Provision of basic needs Democrats and the Christian Democratic for all is at the head its schemes." of priorities. Party. "Poverty today affects above all NORBERT HOCHREUTENER, CVP The Liberal Party of Switzerland has young families, particularly single- one reservation: sound financing for the parent families" stresses national councillor AHV must come first; if necessary the Ursula Hafner, chair of the national councillor from Zürich, but only normal age for entitlement to a retirement socialist group in parliament. It is this that if it is financially viable and fair. His pension must be higher than 65, has given rise to the idea of creating an Liberal Democratic colleague Christine because introducing flexibility involves allowance for children on the lines of Egerszegi, from Aargau, believes the higher cost. "The reference age for the old age pension, financed by direct Swiss 16 REVIEW 6/98 POLITICS maternity insurance by drawing on allowances for loss of profit, and that, Parties in brief (II) before such an insurance scheme is created, a vote should be taken on Labour Party (PdA) drawing on VAT. Seats in the National Council: 3 (members of atisfied? The Evangelical People's Party puts the Social-Democratic group), in the Council the interests of the family at the head of of States: 0 its social policies priority list. It calls for President: Christiane Jaquet-Berger (VD) federal taxation. For old people for a tax system which favours families, Address: P. 0. Box 232, CH-1211 Geneva 8 whom the labour market no longer maternity insurance, a 20 mph limit in Tel. + 41 22 322 22 99, Fax +41 22 322 22 95 The PdA itself: provides an outlet, approaches have to built up areas, access to training for all on "The PdA advocates policies which take into be found which include flexible retirement, and sickness insurance premiums which account the needs of all humanity, and work, families can part-time unemployment pay. opposes the plundering of natural resources benefit insurance or invalidity - a and the destruction of nature. /Is our contribution charge on society will arise in any case. to such policies of solidarity, we wish Taxes on The Christian Democratic Party has energy to strengthen the movement for socialism in our country, and to fight for more by two priorities: stabilising AHV finances The Greens argue in favour of justice the side of all disadvantaged people. " with an additional one percent on VAT retirement à la carte from 62 onwards, from 2005 onwards, associated with financed by taxes on energy, for "tapping National Association of Independents (LdU) flexibilisation of retirement age through further into earnings must be avoided" professional insurance, and the extension notes national councillor Roland Seats in the National Council: 3 (forming a with the in the Council of States: 0 of professional insurance to the Osterman from Vaud. Furthermore a group EVP), Chairmanship: currently vacant lowest paid, so as to include part-time minimum jobseekers' allowance should Address: P. 0. Box 7075, CH-3011 Berne workers of whom are women. be introduced and the - many integration of Tel. + 41 31 382 16 36, Fax +41 31 382 36 95 "The economies that are needed ought foreigners promoted. Internet: www.ldu.ch, e-mail: [email protected] to be made on sickness insurance", by Apart from a complete review of The LdU on itself: limiting the range of services provided, sickness insurance (with lower "The National Association has always stood for a Switzerland to the by limiting the number of doctors in contributions and privatisation of the hospi- open world and proves this once again on the issue of some large city areas, and by doing Europe. Other countries tend to be more with subsidies to which away hospitals, positive towards the Swiss as long as our stand in the of fair competition, does off. " way "Anyone country not cut itself Norbert Hochreutner says. standing his The Liberal Democratic Party puts on own feet Evangelical People's Party, Switzerland (EVP) great emphasis on balancing the social in daily life makes a Seats in the National Council: 2 (forming a insurance budget. "We need healthy contribution." group with the LdU); in the Council of States: 0 finances the to guarantee pensions for ULRICH SCHLÜER, SVP President: Otto Zwygart (BE) next generation as well", Christine Address: P. 0. Box, CH-8023 Zurich Egerszegi notes. The principle must be Tel. +14 272 71 00, Fax: +41 272 14 37 to help those who are in need. No new Internet: www.evp-pev.ch e-mail: [email protected] insurance schemes should be created tals) the Freedom Party calls for the - The EVP on itself: attention should rather be given to a self-employed to have the of option "The EVP has an attitude of openness better distribution of benefits. Rather joining the professional pensions towards Europe and the rest of the world. It than introduce a new maternity insurance, insurance scheme, and (combining the favoured accession to the UN and EEA.
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