"We need to find funds for security somehow"

FDP co-president Benjamin Mühlemann has called for stricter budget controls to fund new priorities. He argues that fiscal restraint is now more urgent than ever. His proposals include cuts to social welfare and subsidies to balance rising costs in security and pensions.

Mühlemann insists that the public’s decision on a 13th AHV pension payment must be respected. However, he warns that Parliament must find ways to cover the extra cost. One option he suggests is reducing other social insurance benefits, believing voters might accept such trade-offs.

He also targets nearly 400 million francs in subsidies for climate-friendly heating and renovations. According to him, these payments suffer from free-rider effects and should be cut. The savings, he argues, could help fund security measures without raising taxes. On tax policy, Mühlemann opposes increasing taxes for security spending, calling it a breach of good faith. Instead, he wants to reallocate existing funds, including defending tax breaks for second- and third-pillar pension payouts. While the first relief package has been scaled back, Mühlemann expects a second one focused on military funding. He stresses that changing circumstances require a fresh look at spending priorities.

Mühlemann’s proposals centre on reallocating funds rather than raising taxes. His plan includes trimming subsidies and social welfare to meet new financial demands. The debate over these cuts is likely to intensify as Parliament seeks solutions to budget shortfalls.