LeSving, you get my vote for best post of the year.
While there is always some risk with such proposals, the subject statement needs to be put into some perspective for those not aware of how things work in Switzerland.
1) As discussed above, this is a private members addition to a general CO2 bill proposal coming from the smaller council of states (2 seats per state/canton, totalling 46 seats). Any bill needs to pass both houses, and the next step is the national council where there are 200 seats. It would be highly unusual (read: almost impossible) for a major CO2 bill such as this (of which the CHF500 tax is just a tiny side note) to pass there without any further changes which would then take it back to the council of states. So we are a long way from a final version.
2) There is background info on the Swiss Aeroclub web site (unfortunately only in German) including the actual debate on the private member’s motion:
Symbol politics
In this discussion it is clearly stated by the initiator that he is targeting private jets where there is no airline ticket to carry a surcharge, which was the main subject of debate. He also indicates that the term “private jet” needs to be clearly defined. However all the private jets arriving for the WEF in Davos are used as an example. Essentially he has raised the subject of applying an airline ticket surcharge to non-airline commercial air traffic. It was clearly pointed out in the discussion that given that a small propeller-driven aircraft has about the same emissions as a car, a similar charge would need to be applied to every auto trip to be consistent, making the absurdity of the proposal clear !!
3) The entire general aviation community is already active, starting with a push to vote for GA-friendly candidates in the upcoming federal election. Even the federal minister for transportation (who is a member of the socialist party) argued in the debate against the proposal on the basis that a fuel surcharge would be more equitable. The arguments are all on the Aeroclub page linked above.
As a matter of general interest, for anyone wishing to research further, there is a good official document about the Swiss system here:
The Swiss Confederation – a brief guide
BUKU_2019_EN_Internet_pdf
Well, the next chapter in this whole story of a CO2 law with the potential to ruin GA has been indirectly written today.
In the national elections, the Green parties have carried a landslide victory, which, with socialists and (so called) christian democrats will give them a majority in the Nationalrat (equivalent to the house of representatives). The Staenderat, who has introduced and passed the bill, has also moved further to the left.
It is of little doubt therefore that the law will pass pretty much unchallenged. The only conservative party will most certainly rise a referendum, but todays election shows that the majority of the voting people do want a change away from freedom towards a eco-state in which many of todays freedoms will disappear. I am quite certain that the first such victim will be GA.
Well. It is democracy and at least, even if we don’t like it, it is honored in Switzerland. Green-Red it is and they will dismantle the economic well being of that country and turn it into something they deem necessary. Many of us will see no more future there, but it remains to be seen if via the referendum rights (unless they are abolished) we can maintain at least some personal freedom. Personally I doubt it.
Well, it’s been nice living here. We have to consider our options now. At least now I know first hand what it means to find out that a majority of your fellow citizens does not like nor appreciate their country in it’s present state anymore and want to try something else which is utterly unacceptable to me. Only time will tell if they succeed.
Can a Swiss citizen move to and work in any of the adjoining countries? If so, there appear to be many options in close proximity, with the same language too, though obviously that is simplistic since few want to abandon their home.
I find it important to note that the initiative for the 500 CHF tax on private flights came from a member of parliament who was and is affiliated with the aforementioned “only” conservative party.
And there are still alternatives available which value individual freedoms as part of their party identity.
Given how relatively little changes with each Swiss election, and given our basic democratic rights, I feel less pessimistic. I am even convinced that none of the neighboring countries is any better with respect to valuing individual freedoms.
Yes, the EU.
Well… German elections are next.
If we want to continue flying I guess outside the DACH countries will be a safer option. Or even better outside .Europe
It sounds as if some of the fears aired earlier seem to be coming forward. Is the GA tax played as bashing the wealthy? Is that popular in Switzerland? I always thought they were fairly sensible on tax, if less so on others.
The GA tax proposal came from the same guy that brought us the “Abzocker-Initiative” in 2013 (“rip-off artist initiative”), which imposes controls on CEO salaries and bonuses. Stemming from a grudge he holds from the times when Swissair went bankrupt and the then acting CEO had drawn 5 years worth of salary in advance whilst Mr. Minder’s cosmetics company, which was a supplier to Swissair, was left out of money for their invoices.
So I think the answer is yes.
Ah very interesting. In terms of a refendum is the population likely to be on board with that sort of tax increase?
