Committee of the Council of States wants to retain indirect press subsidies
The federal government should continue to reduce the cost of newspaper delivery in the future. The Council of States' Committee on Transport and Telecommunications (KVF) intends to instruct the Federal Council to maintain indirect press subsidies.
By 9 votes to 1, the committee asked the Council to adopt a corresponding motion by National Councillor Christine Bulliard (CVP/FR), as reported by the parliamentary services on Friday. The motion was submitted with a view to the KAP savings program, which Parliament has since adopted. The Federal Council had wanted to dispense with indirect press subsidies as part of this savings program. However, the National Council and Council of States did not agree with this and removed the measure from the bill. The aim now is to prevent the Federal Council from cutting indirect press subsidies again in the next planned austerity program. The Council of States committee has therefore slightly amended the motion text relating to the KAP. The National Council will have to decide on this once again. The Council of States Committee states that it wants to create clarity with the mandate to the Federal Council. The deletion of indirect press subsidies via compensation to Swiss Post should be avoided - at least as long as there is no real alternative. (SDA)
