money and manure
Farmers and business launch a joint election campaign
Three business associations and the farmers’ association launched their joint campaign for the autumn 2023 elections on Epiphany in Bern. They want to put the social importance of the economy and agriculture in a positive light.
Representatives of economiesuisse, the trade association, the employers’ association and the farmers’ association presented corresponding election posters on the Bundesplatz. These are part of a campaign planned in several waves and via various channels entitled “Perspective Switzerland”, as stated in a statement. They had already announced in October that the four organizations would work together in the election campaign.
The organizations emphasized that the Swiss economy and agriculture employed more than 4.5 million people in more than 600,000 companies. They also offer more than 170,000 young people vocational training every year and, in addition to food production and innovations, also contribute CHF 145 billion to social security.
Concern about competitiveness
A competitive economy is a prerequisite for attractive jobs, income for private households, government revenue and for the financing of social welfare, it said. However, the associations would worry about the development and competitiveness of the Swiss workplace.
On October 22, 2023, Swiss voters will re-elect the people’s representative body in parliament – the 200-strong National Council. In most of the cantons, the 46 cantonal representatives – the councilors of states – are also re-elected on the same day.
In the last elections four years ago, the right-wing conservative SVP emerged as the strongest party (share of voters: 25.9 percent), followed by the SP (16.8 percent), the FDP (15.1 percent), the Greens (13 ,3), the then CVP (11.4), the GLP (7.8), the BDP (2.4), which merged with the CVP to form the so-called center in the current legislature, and the EVP (2.1). (SDA)