Swiss Defense Minister Warns of Economic Burden from 'Citizens' Service' Initiative
Switzerland's Defense Minister, Martin Pfister, has raised concerns about the 'Citizens' Service' initiative, arguing it could disproportionately burden women and cause significant economic strain. The initiative aims to expand conscription to include all young people, not just men, for military, civil defense, and civilian service.
Pfister believes the initiative could lead to twice as many people being absent from work, leading to high costs for unemployment and car insurance. The annual costs could double, with around 1.6 billion francs for unemployment insurance and around 320 million for car insurance quotes.
The initiative seeks to recruit around 70,000 people each year, far exceeding the needs of the army and civil defense. The Federal Council and Parliament recognize the goal of strengthening citizens' engagement but find the initiative goes too far. They question whether enough militia services could be created that comply with the ban on forced labor, and whether obligations imposed on citizens would be necessary.
The 'Citizens' Service' initiative aims to expand conscription to all young people, but faces opposition from the Federal Council and Parliament due to potential economic strain and concerns about the feasibility of creating sufficient militia services. The initiative's goal of fostering community engagement is recognized, but its methods are debated.
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