Swiss army to protect World Economic Forum

More than 6,000 Swiss troops will guard the WEF proceedings in January Keystone

Both houses of the Swiss parliament have agreed to provide army troops to guard the World Economic Forum (WEF) meeting in Davos next year.

The vote paves the way for a maximum of 6,500 troops to be deployed.

The House of Representatives on Monday voted 92 in favour and 68 against; the Senate voted 31 for and eight against.

Parliament had to be consulted because the use of more than 2,000 troops was being considered.

Security at last year’s WEF meeting in Davos cost SFr13 million ($10.3 million). It is thought that more than half of the SFr22 million budget for next year’s conference will be eaten up by security.

Leftwing parliamentarians argued against using the army, mainly on the grounds of cost.

“The high costs can no longer be justified. The WEF is a meeting of the rich and powerful and serves no public interest,” said Josef Lang of the Green Party.

“The army should not be playing the role of the police,” said Social Democrat Mario Fehr.

Defence Minister Samuel Schmid emphasised that holding the WEF event on Swiss soil was vital to the country’s interests.

Money

The next WEF meeting is set to take place in the Graubünden resort from January 21 to 25.

“Authorities are striving to ensure that the costs are driven down further,” Walter Schlegel of Graubünden’s WEF committee told swissinfo.

Bern estimates that providing security at next year’s event will cost around SFr8 million. But host canton Graubünden reckons the true figure lies closer to SFr10 million.

Earlier this year, the federal government agreed a new model to help finance the Davos summit.

It said it would provide an annual SFr3 million from 2004 to 2006, and would also provide an additional SFr2 million to cover any deficit.

Other contributions would come from Graubünden and WEF, which would each provide SFr2 million, with the commune of Davos giving SFr1 million.

Alongside the military contingent will be police officers from all over the country, but no numbers have been confirmed.

Protests

Whether such a large security force will be required in Davos next year remains unclear.

Opponents of the event have called for “decentralised blockades” outside Davos, which should be carried out “responsibly”. The aim is to impede the arrival of WEF-participants in Davos.

This change of tack is seen as a response to the increased militarisation of the 2004 event.

Anti-globalisation protesters are also likely to demonstrate in Davos.

During the 2003 event, the Swiss mounted an unparalleled security operation that involved the use of fighter jets circling over the venue. Hundreds of German police officers were drafted in.

Some 1,800 troops were also used to guard the proceedings.

The issue of the high costs of protecting international events reared its head earlier this year during the G-8 summit in the French town of Evian. Security costs there topped SFr43 million.

France and Switzerland agreed to each contribute SFr17.2 million. The remaining SFr8.6 million was met by the cantons Geneva, Vaud and Valais.

swissinfo

In brief

The Swiss parliament has agreed to provide army troops to guard the next WEF meeting in Davos.

Some 6,500 soldiers will provide security at the meeting, which runs from January 21 to 25.