BERN - Finance and defence officials spent Monday preparing a briefing that will land next week: channelling future tax surpluses toward army procurement instead of automatic debt reduction, plus a larger multi-year defence fund. Supporters say ammunition and air defence cannot live on leftover cash from fat years. Critics say once you punch a hole in the surplus rule, every department will want one.
June's civilian-service yes gave the army a staffing signal. August is the money signal. They are not the same instrument.
The announcement
The government plan is in our 19 August report. Party reactions follow the next day.