Parliament wants to maintain indirect press funding
The federal government should continue to reduce the cost of newspaper delivery. Parliament has instructed the Federal Council to maintain indirect press subsidies. On Thursday, the Council of States approved an amended motion from the National Council.
The small chamber approved the motion by National Councillor Christine Bulliard (CVP/FR) without opposition. The motion was submitted with a view to the KAP austerity 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 deleted the measure. The aim now is to prevent press funding from being called into question again in future austerity programs. At the request of its committee, the Council of States has therefore slightly amended the text of the motion relating to the KAP. The National Council will have to decide on this once again.
The Councillors want 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. Speakers in the Council of States pointed out the difficult financial situation of many newspapers. Federal Councillor Doris Leuthard assured them that the Federal Council wanted to continue indirect press subsidies for the time being. However, alternatives would require an amendment to the constitution, and even the industry does not want that. With the current constitution and legislation, it would only be possible to increase support for the SDA news agency. This would help the small publishers to reduce costs, said Leuthard. Parliament would be able to decide on this. (SDA)
