Own goal of the year

The Swiss Press Association's proposal to set up a foundation to promote the press was intended as a defensive measure against direct federal subsidies. Instead, it provided the arguments for the supporters of a media article in the National Council. For SP parliamentarian Hansjürg Fehr, the publishers had thus moved from their "previous narrow-minded attitude of saying no to a much more constructive stance". Cécile Bühlmann (Greens) felt that the National Council could "wonderfully" provide the necessary constitutional basis for the foundation idea with the media article. As a result, the bill was adopted by 78 votes to 53. The publishers now see the independence of the press from politics under threat and must hope that the Council of States will vote against the media article. It is doubtful whether the foundation would be established in this case. With the maximum demand of 150 million francs in federal funds per year, the publishers have predetermined it to be a failure. (sm)