BERN - Three days after the session opened, the actual documents were the budget, health credits and transport leftovers. Parties that had lost civic duty and the climate tax looked for smaller wins in ordinary legislation. Parties that had won tried not to crow in the chamber.

Those files move more money than most initiatives. They attract fewer cameras. That is not an accident.

Toward mid-December

Some texts will slip to March. They always do. Christmas is a better whip than a party president.