Top of the week: Federal Council against free party commercials
The Federal Council opposes a proposal by the National Council’s Committee on Political Affairs (SPK). The proposal would have allowed political parties to advertise on radio and television with free spots ahead of federal referendums. According to the SDA, the federal government believes that this interference with broadcasters’ freedom is not appropriate for the purpose of supporting political parties.
The Federal Council is opposing a project by the National Council's Political Institutions Committee (SPK). This provided for parties to be allowed to advertise free of charge on radio and television before federal votes. According to SDA, the national government believes that this encroachment on the freedom of broadcasters is not suitable for promoting political parties. In addition, the plan contradicts the decision of the councils to maintain the ban on religious and political advertising in the Radio and Television Act.
According to the Federal Council, SBB has offered the political parties the option of displaying a joint poster with a slogan on the proposals in the larger stations before referendums. However, the parties have never made use of this offer. The SPK would like to bring more fairness to the referendum campaign with the free advertisements from the parties and the referendum and initiative committees. The Commission must now decide whether and in what form it wishes to submit the legislative amendments to the plenary. Otherwise, we can only guess how long the Swiss parties will wait to come up with an alternative to Teleblocher.
According to the Federal Council, SBB has offered the political parties the option of displaying a joint poster with a slogan on the proposals in the larger stations before referendums. However, the parties have never made use of this offer. The SPK would like to bring more fairness to the referendum campaign with the free advertisements from the parties and the referendum and initiative committees. The Commission must now decide whether and in what form it wishes to submit the legislative amendments to the plenary. Otherwise, we can only guess how long the Swiss parties will wait to come up with an alternative to Teleblocher.
