Federal Parliament: free workstations for journalists

The federal government is making the new media center available to journalists free of charge. The National Council rejected a motion by 94 votes to 75 in which Zurich SVP National Councillor Hans Kaufmann called for cost-covering rental contracts. According to Kaufmann, it is unacceptable for the federal government to forgo annual rental income of around two million. Federal Chancellor Annemarie Huber-Hotz said that the Confederation had always provided media professionals with workspaces in the Federal Palace free of charge. According to Huber-Hotz, media representatives only receive rooms, furniture and connections free of charge. They would still have to procure, install and maintain the technical equipment themselves. The SRG does not pay any rent either. In return, however, it makes its products and services available to the federal government free of charge. This summer, the federal media will move into the new premises in the media center, which is currently being refurbished at a cost of around CHF 42 million.