Government Floats Using Tax Surpluses to Buy Arms

BERN - The Federal Council outlined a plan in August to send future tax surpluses toward army procurement rather than the usual debt reduction path. A larger defence fund, later quoted around CHF 24 billion, sat in the same briefing pack.

Finance specialists across parties heard a precedent. If defence can claim the surplus, why not rail, why not premiums? Defence specialists heard something else: a way to buy ammunition in a world that has started using it again.

September will decide the tone

The National Council takes the file in the autumn session, alongside the ordinary CHF 3.4 billion budget. Our preview of the political fight is in the defence fund report.