p. 1

svp ­ the party for switzerland party programme 2011 ­ 2015

[close]

p. 2

table of contents at a glance toni brunner switzerland ­ a special case the sovereignty of the citizen property finance taxes levies business and companies foreign policy security asylum policy foreigners army agriculture education ahv alv bvg eo iv healthcare transport policy energy environment media culture sport putting people first religions the path of the future the switzerland we want standing up for switzerland self-determination and self-confidence defending freedom against threats protection against left-wing robbery more for the private sector less for the state «it is regulation» ­ says the bureaucrat defend ­ don t give up our interests a tougher line on criminals an end to bogus asylum seekers limit immigration national defence is the primary task healthy farmes ­ healthy country expect achievement encourage achievement safeguard the social security system combat abuse quality through competition transport ­ the pulse of our economy swiss electricity safe and environment-friendly act don t complain competition not state monopoly culture is a matter of culture exercise for mind and body cooperation not conflict the challenges to our values personal responsibility rather than an all-powerful state 4 6 11 15 19 23 29 35 41 47 53 61 65 69 75 81 87 93 99 103 109 113 117 121 124 4 1

[close]

p. 3

table of contents at a glance toni brunner switzerland ­ a special case the sovereignty of the citizen property finance taxes levies business and companies foreign policy security asylum policy foreigners army agriculture education ahv alv bvg eo iv healthcare transport policy energy environment media culture sport putting people first religions the path of the future the switzerland we want standing up for switzerland self-determination and self-confidence defending freedom against threats protection against left-wing robbery more for the private sector less for the state «it is regulation» ­ says the bureaucrat defend ­ don t give up our interests a tougher line on criminals an end to bogus asylum seekers limit immigration national defence is the primary task healthy farmes ­ healthy country expect achievement encourage achievement safeguard the social security system combat abuse quality through competition transport ­ the pulse of our economy swiss electricity safe and environment-friendly act don t complain competition not state monopoly culture is a matter of culture exercise for mind and body cooperation not conflict the challenges to our values personal responsibility rather than an all-powerful state 4 6 11 15 19 23 29 35 41 47 53 61 65 69 75 81 87 93 99 103 109 113 117 121 124 4 1

[close]

p. 4

2 3

[close]

p. 5

2 3

[close]

p. 6

at a glance the switzerland we want when people vote for the swiss people s party svp we want them to know exactly what they will get the svp speaks with a clear voice and steers a clear and reliable course your elected representatives in the federal government cantons and municipalities have always been people you can rely on to keep their promises they will continue to do so and that will be the yardstick against which you measure them a consistent asylum policy that prevents abuse and offers protection only to genuine refugees safe cheap and as far as possible independent energy supply for households and businesses an immigration policy tailored to the needs of switzerland instead of unlimited mass immigration practical action to protect the environment rather than wealth redistribution based on left-wing ideology that brings no benefits for our natural surroundings a media policy based on competition between private-sector providers rather than the srg s monopoly of radio and television a vibrant culture that is not dictated by the state or promoted through corrupt structures an army that is ready for action and whose main task is national defence and the protection of its own people a productive agricultural sector with family-run farms whose freedom is not choked by a flood of regulations the svp is committed to a secure future in freedom and prosperity a switzerland that is worth living in and of which we can be proud the maintenance of switzerland s unique system founded on sovereignty direct democracy permanent neutrality federalism and subsidiarity citizens imbued with personal responsibility with substantial rights of co-determination rather than an all-powerful centralised state the protection of private property and privacy tighter control of the national budget with lower taxes fees and levies for all an education system that expects and encourages performance supporting popular and elite sport to promote physical and mental wellbeing more market forces and less bureaucracy secure jobs in our companies and trades a social welfare system safeguarded by combating abuse from fraudulent claimants and the workshy a sense of community between young and old men and women families and single people an open and self-confident foreign policy that rejects membership of the eu eea or nato a leaner fitter healthcare system with an emphasis on personal responsibility reducing insurance premiums and slimming down the benefits available the fundamental values of our western christian culture without violence fanaticism and contempt for freedom and the rule of law tougher penalties rather than feather-bedding for lawbreakers and the deportation of foreign criminals helping traffic flow more smoothly rather than putting obstacles in its way avoiding conflict between private and public transport 4 5

[close]

p. 7

at a glance the switzerland we want when people vote for the swiss people s party svp we want them to know exactly what they will get the svp speaks with a clear voice and steers a clear and reliable course your elected representatives in the federal government cantons and municipalities have always been people you can rely on to keep their promises they will continue to do so and that will be the yardstick against which you measure them a consistent asylum policy that prevents abuse and offers protection only to genuine refugees safe cheap and as far as possible independent energy supply for households and businesses an immigration policy tailored to the needs of switzerland instead of unlimited mass immigration practical action to protect the environment rather than wealth redistribution based on left-wing ideology that brings no benefits for our natural surroundings a media policy based on competition between private-sector providers rather than the srg s monopoly of radio and television a vibrant culture that is not dictated by the state or promoted through corrupt structures an army that is ready for action and whose main task is national defence and the protection of its own people a productive agricultural sector with family-run farms whose freedom is not choked by a flood of regulations the svp is committed to a secure future in freedom and prosperity a switzerland that is worth living in and of which we can be proud the maintenance of switzerland s unique system founded on sovereignty direct democracy permanent neutrality federalism and subsidiarity citizens imbued with personal responsibility with substantial rights of co-determination rather than an all-powerful centralised state the protection of private property and privacy tighter control of the national budget with lower taxes fees and levies for all an education system that expects and encourages performance supporting popular and elite sport to promote physical and mental wellbeing more market forces and less bureaucracy secure jobs in our companies and trades a social welfare system safeguarded by combating abuse from fraudulent claimants and the workshy a sense of community between young and old men and women families and single people an open and self-confident foreign policy that rejects membership of the eu eea or nato a leaner fitter healthcare system with an emphasis on personal responsibility reducing insurance premiums and slimming down the benefits available the fundamental values of our western christian culture without violence fanaticism and contempt for freedom and the rule of law tougher penalties rather than feather-bedding for lawbreakers and the deportation of foreign criminals helping traffic flow more smoothly rather than putting obstacles in its way avoiding conflict between private and public transport 4 5

[close]

p. 8

to nibrunner standing up for switzerland the urge to protect our families and possessions the desire for liberty independence and personal responsibility have formed the bedrock of our confederation from the very beginning they are the values that have made our country strong and shaped it for centuries they are the guarantee of our prosperity and security in good times as well as bad the shared values that underpin our confederation are set out in the federal charter of 1291 «seeing the malice of the age» our nation s founders swore to aid and protect each other they undertook to defend each other against attacks and to reject the authority of foreign judges switzerland once a poor country is now one of the world s most prosperous nations the economic crises and budget deficits so characteristic of the modern era demonstrate the superiority of switzerland s recipe for success but these achievements are under threat the actions of the federal council parliament and the administration are increasingly challenging the fundamental values and strengths of our country preserving freedom and independence freedom and independence are values worth defending one instrument of national defence is our militia army which is rooted in the people and must not be allowed to become a political football if we give up our militia system we will either abandon the cause of national defence or have to rely on an expensive professional army which would seek work mainly abroad and bring conflict and war into our own country freedom and independence are also threatened by an ideologically motivated foreign policy instead of a diplomacy of mediation we are increasingly seeing a diplomacy of finger-pointing this angers other states offends our trading partners and betrays our tried and tested neutrality limiting immigration safeguarding the social welfare system politicians and trade unionists are overloading our social welfare system but we all have to pick up the bill ahv and unemployment insurance disability and health insurance accident insurance and social welfare ­ is on a solid long-term financial footing more and more foreigners who come here end up not in our labour market but in our social welfare system the system can only be maintained if those who pay can rest assured that they are not being taken for a ride for that reason abuse of the system needs to be systematically rooted out the svp wants to secure our existing social welfare system rather than continuing to expand it until it collapses under its own weight in this way we will ensure social cohesion and the financial security of our benefit schemes swiss vote svp people from abroad have long sought out switzerland in the hope of a better life and a new home without their contribution many companies would never have got where they are today today however switzerland has serious problems with immigration the policies of the federal council and the centre-left parties have led to uncontrolled population growth with far-reaching consequences important qualities and traditions of our nation are at risk many swiss people no longer feel safe in their own country almost half of the crimes committed in switzerland are carried out by foreigners this situation is the consequence of uncontrolled mass immigration and lax punishment that is why the svp launched its deportation initiative foreigners who commit murder rape or robbery or who abuse our social welfare system must leave our country devaluation of the family the family and parental responsibility for bringing up children are increasingly being questioned the state is making ever greater incursions into the parental sphere children are supposed to begin compulsory schooling at the age of just four and if the educational bureaucrats have their way they will be integrated into state care even earlier instead of being able to carry out their real task of educating the children in their charge teachers are being overwhelmed with paperwork and constantly changing reforms the federal parliament has even decreed that tax relief for child care should be paid only to families who entrust the task to someone else the svp s family initiative demands that parents who look after their children themselves should be entitled to at least the same tax benefits the federal elections on 23 october 2011 are an opportunity to consider what kind of future we want for our nation despite all the challenges we face we should bear in mind that our country s roots are healthy let us remember the fundamental values and strengths of switzerland the people are the supreme authority in our nation and they alone decide which direction it will go in we as citizens have the opportunity to bring about change through the ballot box you will be voting not so much for individual candidates but rather on a fundamental issue are you for or against switzerland if like us you want to continue backing our nation i urge you to vote for the svp ­ the party for switzerland there is only one way to reverse the damage being done to our country swiss vote svp no to eu accession leading figures and parties argue the case for joining the eu but who will bear the cost of europe s vast debts our children and grandchildren switzerland would pay two and three times for joining the eu and yet the political class and the «elites» are seeking to drag us into the eu by the back door switzerland s application to join the eu is still lodged with brussels eu accession would mean the abolition of direct democracy independence neutrality and the swiss franc it would also lead to lower wages more unemployment higher rents even higher levies and taxes and force us to hand over billions to brussels national councillor toni brunner chairman of the swiss people s party 6 7

[close]

p. 9

to nibrunner standing up for switzerland the urge to protect our families and possessions the desire for liberty independence and personal responsibility have formed the bedrock of our confederation from the very beginning they are the values that have made our country strong and shaped it for centuries they are the guarantee of our prosperity and security in good times as well as bad the shared values that underpin our confederation are set out in the federal charter of 1291 «seeing the malice of the age» our nation s founders swore to aid and protect each other they undertook to defend each other against attacks and to reject the authority of foreign judges switzerland once a poor country is now one of the world s most prosperous nations the economic crises and budget deficits so characteristic of the modern era demonstrate the superiority of switzerland s recipe for success but these achievements are under threat the actions of the federal council parliament and the administration are increasingly challenging the fundamental values and strengths of our country preserving freedom and independence freedom and independence are values worth defending one instrument of national defence is our militia army which is rooted in the people and must not be allowed to become a political football if we give up our militia system we will either abandon the cause of national defence or have to rely on an expensive professional army which would seek work mainly abroad and bring conflict and war into our own country freedom and independence are also threatened by an ideologically motivated foreign policy instead of a diplomacy of mediation we are increasingly seeing a diplomacy of finger-pointing this angers other states offends our trading partners and betrays our tried and tested neutrality limiting immigration safeguarding the social welfare system politicians and trade unionists are overloading our social welfare system but we all have to pick up the bill ahv and unemployment insurance disability and health insurance accident insurance and social welfare ­ is on a solid long-term financial footing more and more foreigners who come here end up not in our labour market but in our social welfare system the system can only be maintained if those who pay can rest assured that they are not being taken for a ride for that reason abuse of the system needs to be systematically rooted out the svp wants to secure our existing social welfare system rather than continuing to expand it until it collapses under its own weight in this way we will ensure social cohesion and the financial security of our benefit schemes swiss vote svp people from abroad have long sought out switzerland in the hope of a better life and a new home without their contribution many companies would never have got where they are today today however switzerland has serious problems with immigration the policies of the federal council and the centre-left parties have led to uncontrolled population growth with far-reaching consequences important qualities and traditions of our nation are at risk many swiss people no longer feel safe in their own country almost half of the crimes committed in switzerland are carried out by foreigners this situation is the consequence of uncontrolled mass immigration and lax punishment that is why the svp launched its deportation initiative foreigners who commit murder rape or robbery or who abuse our social welfare system must leave our country devaluation of the family the family and parental responsibility for bringing up children are increasingly being questioned the state is making ever greater incursions into the parental sphere children are supposed to begin compulsory schooling at the age of just four and if the educational bureaucrats have their way they will be integrated into state care even earlier instead of being able to carry out their real task of educating the children in their charge teachers are being overwhelmed with paperwork and constantly changing reforms the federal parliament has even decreed that tax relief for child care should be paid only to families who entrust the task to someone else the svp s family initiative demands that parents who look after their children themselves should be entitled to at least the same tax benefits the federal elections on 23 october 2011 are an opportunity to consider what kind of future we want for our nation despite all the challenges we face we should bear in mind that our country s roots are healthy let us remember the fundamental values and strengths of switzerland the people are the supreme authority in our nation and they alone decide which direction it will go in we as citizens have the opportunity to bring about change through the ballot box you will be voting not so much for individual candidates but rather on a fundamental issue are you for or against switzerland if like us you want to continue backing our nation i urge you to vote for the svp ­ the party for switzerland there is only one way to reverse the damage being done to our country swiss vote svp no to eu accession leading figures and parties argue the case for joining the eu but who will bear the cost of europe s vast debts our children and grandchildren switzerland would pay two and three times for joining the eu and yet the political class and the «elites» are seeking to drag us into the eu by the back door switzerland s application to join the eu is still lodged with brussels eu accession would mean the abolition of direct democracy independence neutrality and the swiss franc it would also lead to lower wages more unemployment higher rents even higher levies and taxes and force us to hand over billions to brussels national councillor toni brunner chairman of the swiss people s party 6 7

[close]

p. 10

8 9

[close]

p. 11

8 9

[close]

p. 12

switzerland ­ an exception self-determination and self-confidence our nation is a liberal state with comprehensive freedoms and citizens rights a neutral foreign policy and a federalist political order the svp is committed to an independent switzerland that is open to the world one that maintains good political economic and cultural relations with all nations but at the same time protects its own sovereignty and makes its own decisions what binds us together is a patriotism that is not tied to a single culture or language but rather to a shared history and a commitment to a unique political system without which our multicultural nation could not enjoy the freedoms that we cherish today we are united by our commitment to a system based on independence federalism direct democracy permanent armed neutrality and subsidiarity commitment to switzerland s unique system the federal state we know today was created more than 160 years ago as a democratic federal republic surrounded by european monarchies later this unique system was extended with the expansion of direct rights of popular codetermination to form what is now a highly modern concept of a small state founded on direct democracy it has no parallel anywhere else in the world despite adverse external conditions it has brought us almost two centuries of peace the uniqueness of the swiss «you swiss are wonderful people even when you are divided you are united and you never forget your old friendship.» johann jakob sturm mayor of strasbourg marking the first peace of kappel in 1529 stability security and prosperity if we abandon our commitment to that uniqueness and give up one or more of the pillars on which our state is built we risk endangering the quality of switzerland as a whole focusing on our strengths values such as dependability modesty punctuality thrift and hard work have traditionally characterised the swiss people they have also helped to define swiss products and services and made the concept of swiss quality a valued asset throughout the world we have never been good at playing catch-up or imitating others problems should be solved where they are known and understood if we are to deal ourselves with the problems we face we need our own legal system in a sovereign state that is capable of action the belief that others can solve our problems is misguided in 11

[close]

p. 13

switzerland ­ an exception self-determination and self-confidence our nation is a liberal state with comprehensive freedoms and citizens rights a neutral foreign policy and a federalist political order the svp is committed to an independent switzerland that is open to the world one that maintains good political economic and cultural relations with all nations but at the same time protects its own sovereignty and makes its own decisions what binds us together is a patriotism that is not tied to a single culture or language but rather to a shared history and a commitment to a unique political system without which our multicultural nation could not enjoy the freedoms that we cherish today we are united by our commitment to a system based on independence federalism direct democracy permanent armed neutrality and subsidiarity commitment to switzerland s unique system the federal state we know today was created more than 160 years ago as a democratic federal republic surrounded by european monarchies later this unique system was extended with the expansion of direct rights of popular codetermination to form what is now a highly modern concept of a small state founded on direct democracy it has no parallel anywhere else in the world despite adverse external conditions it has brought us almost two centuries of peace the uniqueness of the swiss «you swiss are wonderful people even when you are divided you are united and you never forget your old friendship.» johann jakob sturm mayor of strasbourg marking the first peace of kappel in 1529 stability security and prosperity if we abandon our commitment to that uniqueness and give up one or more of the pillars on which our state is built we risk endangering the quality of switzerland as a whole focusing on our strengths values such as dependability modesty punctuality thrift and hard work have traditionally characterised the swiss people they have also helped to define swiss products and services and made the concept of swiss quality a valued asset throughout the world we have never been good at playing catch-up or imitating others problems should be solved where they are known and understood if we are to deal ourselves with the problems we face we need our own legal system in a sovereign state that is capable of action the belief that others can solve our problems is misguided in 11

[close]

p. 14

switzerland ­ an exception switzerland ­ an exception where we stand any case there are scarcely any examples to follow since few countries have begun tackling the difficulties that we too face national indebtedness weak growth unemployment a ballooning social welfare system poor education crime and mass immigration direct democracy a system without parallel since the creation of the federal state switzerland has held more votes and elections than all the other countries in the world combined swiss people have more opportunities to vote in a single year than the british for example enjoy in their entire lifetime ereignty because we are more careful with public money at confederation cantonal and municipal level than other countries we are now coming under considerable external pressure international committees draw up «black» and «grey» lists based on arbitrary criteria yet the people behind them are the very same politicians who have emptied the coffers through maladministration we should oppose this attempted interference in our internal affairs with all the strength at our disposal the nation state ­ a recipe for success our nation has always fared well when it has looked to its unique status rather than imitating others or «harmonising» with international organisations switzerland s recipe for success consists in the principle of contrariety switzerland was a republic surrounded by monarchies it held the banner of democracy and freedom aloft in the midst of dictatorships and it continues to go its own independent way amidst an «integrated» european union by pursuing this unique path switzerland has developed in a short space of time from the «poorhouse of europe» to one of the wealthiest countries in the world the ability to solve political problems is and remains tied to nation states with the freedom to act only they have the necessary material human financial and military resources it is for this reason that recent years have seen the creation of more new states worldwide than in many decades previously ­ and most of those states are small the svp is committed to switzerland s unique system of a state founded on independence federalism direct democracy and permanent armed neutrality and subsidiarity favours a liberal state with comprehensive freedoms and rights for its citizens fights to maintain and extend the rights of the citizen and opposes all undemocratic limitations such as legal restrictions on popular initiatives is opposed to attempts by self-serving politicians and the federal administration to abandon switzerland s unique system under the pretext of integration and harmonisation calls for reliable «swiss quality» in politics the economy and society instead of status-consciousness complacency and grandstanding demands that our public authorities remain steadfast in the face of increasing pressure on our sovereignty from other states and international organisations backs our independent currency the swiss franc the expansion of the national gold reserves and the maintenance of gold stocks in switzerland believes that a federal state with the power to act remains the best way of resolving political problems federalism has a future our federal state ­ a union of minorities ­ would be inconceivable without extensive federal rights being granted to the cantons and municipalities in a nation created by the voluntary association of different communities federalism is the only way to secure unity only federalism gives citizens the highest possible degree of democratic co-determination within a manageable framework centralist decisions taken over the heads of the people lead to resignation disillusionment with politics and not least maladministration the closer to the people the decisions are taken the more efficient and sensible is the use made of public funds the smaller the political unit the more prudently it manages its resources for all these reasons increasing numbers of people in many countries are demanding more federalism and co-determination and have had enough of remote decision making and democratic deficits preserving the currency gold and tax sovereignty without its own currency and central bank switzerland would have been far less well placed to weather the global financial crisis that began in 2008 many foreign clients fearing for the future of their savings brought their assets to switzerland and purchased swiss francs this has taught us the wisdom of retaining our own currency and not giving up our strong franc in exchange for the weak euro we should be looking after our national bank s gold stocks instead of selling them off we should actually be increasing them tax competition between cantons and municipalities has made a substantial contribution to our prosperity switzerland is also a special case when it comes to tax sov 12 13

[close]

p. 15

switzerland ­ an exception switzerland ­ an exception where we stand any case there are scarcely any examples to follow since few countries have begun tackling the difficulties that we too face national indebtedness weak growth unemployment a ballooning social welfare system poor education crime and mass immigration direct democracy a system without parallel since the creation of the federal state switzerland has held more votes and elections than all the other countries in the world combined swiss people have more opportunities to vote in a single year than the british for example enjoy in their entire lifetime ereignty because we are more careful with public money at confederation cantonal and municipal level than other countries we are now coming under considerable external pressure international committees draw up «black» and «grey» lists based on arbitrary criteria yet the people behind them are the very same politicians who have emptied the coffers through maladministration we should oppose this attempted interference in our internal affairs with all the strength at our disposal the nation state ­ a recipe for success our nation has always fared well when it has looked to its unique status rather than imitating others or «harmonising» with international organisations switzerland s recipe for success consists in the principle of contrariety switzerland was a republic surrounded by monarchies it held the banner of democracy and freedom aloft in the midst of dictatorships and it continues to go its own independent way amidst an «integrated» european union by pursuing this unique path switzerland has developed in a short space of time from the «poorhouse of europe» to one of the wealthiest countries in the world the ability to solve political problems is and remains tied to nation states with the freedom to act only they have the necessary material human financial and military resources it is for this reason that recent years have seen the creation of more new states worldwide than in many decades previously ­ and most of those states are small the svp is committed to switzerland s unique system of a state founded on independence federalism direct democracy and permanent armed neutrality and subsidiarity favours a liberal state with comprehensive freedoms and rights for its citizens fights to maintain and extend the rights of the citizen and opposes all undemocratic limitations such as legal restrictions on popular initiatives is opposed to attempts by self-serving politicians and the federal administration to abandon switzerland s unique system under the pretext of integration and harmonisation calls for reliable «swiss quality» in politics the economy and society instead of status-consciousness complacency and grandstanding demands that our public authorities remain steadfast in the face of increasing pressure on our sovereignty from other states and international organisations backs our independent currency the swiss franc the expansion of the national gold reserves and the maintenance of gold stocks in switzerland believes that a federal state with the power to act remains the best way of resolving political problems federalism has a future our federal state ­ a union of minorities ­ would be inconceivable without extensive federal rights being granted to the cantons and municipalities in a nation created by the voluntary association of different communities federalism is the only way to secure unity only federalism gives citizens the highest possible degree of democratic co-determination within a manageable framework centralist decisions taken over the heads of the people lead to resignation disillusionment with politics and not least maladministration the closer to the people the decisions are taken the more efficient and sensible is the use made of public funds the smaller the political unit the more prudently it manages its resources for all these reasons increasing numbers of people in many countries are demanding more federalism and co-determination and have had enough of remote decision making and democratic deficits preserving the currency gold and tax sovereignty without its own currency and central bank switzerland would have been far less well placed to weather the global financial crisis that began in 2008 many foreign clients fearing for the future of their savings brought their assets to switzerland and purchased swiss francs this has taught us the wisdom of retaining our own currency and not giving up our strong franc in exchange for the weak euro we should be looking after our national bank s gold stocks instead of selling them off we should actually be increasing them tax competition between cantons and municipalities has made a substantial contribution to our prosperity switzerland is also a special case when it comes to tax sov 12 13

[close]