Parliament Stands by Indirect Press Subsidies
Parliament instructs the Federal Council to maintain indirect press subsidies in the amount of 30 million francs, even during times of financial difficulty.
On Thursday, the National Council referred a motion to that effect to the government by a vote of 112 to 60, with 9 abstentions. Parliament is thus calling on the Federal Council to exempt indirect press subsidies from future austerity measures. Should it wish to discontinue this support, «it should develop a credible alternative,» the motion states. In particular, it should ensure that local and regional newspapers can count on the 30 million francs in subsidies that the federal government pays for early delivery. The motion’s sponsor, Christine Bulliard (CVP/FR), is concerned about press diversity in light of the crisis in the industry. In a federalist and multilingual country like Switzerland, she argues, this diversity is a crucial prerequisite for the free formation of opinion.
Through indirect press subsidies, the federal government provides 30 million Swiss francs in subsidies to support the distribution of local and regional newspapers. An additional 20 million Swiss francs is allocated to subsidize the discounted delivery of membership-based and foundation-sponsored publications. The motion dates back to the time when the Federal Council and Parliament were debating the Consolidation and Task Review Package (KAP). In its original form, it aimed to protect indirect press subsidies as part of the 2014 KAP. However, indirect press subsidies survived the budget cuts against the Federal Council’s wishes and were also spared in the current stabilization program.
Federal Council Considers Motion Fulfilled
The Council of States has amended the motion with a view to the future, so that indirect press subsidies are secured in the long term. By referring the motion forward, Parliament reaffirms the system. At the same time, it calls on the Federal Council to develop an even better and, if possible, fairer system. Only the SVP refused to support the motion. While it expressed understanding for the situation facing the local and regional press, it rejected the idea that indirect press subsidies should be exempt from future austerity measures on regulatory grounds. The goal should be to reduce government involvement, said Gregor Rutz (SVP/ZH), because diversity is at risk due to the government doing too much and thereby hindering structural change. Federal Councilor Doris Leuthard considered the motion to have been fulfilled, since indirect press subsidies were spared in the austerity programs. Early-morning delivery is an important tool for indirect press subsidies, she noted, as the regional press plays a significant role in public policy. However, any alternatives would require a constitutional amendment, and even the industry itself does not want that. (SDA)
