For the last time this year politicans arrive for a regular parliamentary session
Keystone
Parliament is meeting for its regular three-week winter session likely to be dominated by discussions over financial matters, including the 2011 federal budget.
The government foresees a deficit of SFr594 million ($597 million) next year with revenue of about SFr61.9 billion.
However, there are plans to cut spending notably for development aid.
Other highlights of the session include the election of the Swiss president and the speakers of both parliamentary chambers for the next 12 months.
Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey is set to take over the largely ceremonial presidential post for the second time in her political career.
In the final week of the session the president of the United Nations General Assembly, Joseph Deiss – a former Swiss foreign minister – is due to address parliament.
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Aid increase wins approval by cabinet
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The additional funds – SFr404 million ($399 million) over two years – are to be used for climate and water projects, according to a foreign ministry statement on Friday. Poverty reduction remains the main task of development cooperation worldwide, and a prosperous and stable world is of key importance to Switzerland, the statement added. Parliament…
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On Wednesday Clark met Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey in Bern, where they discussed the role of the UNDP, Switzerland’s most important partner institution within the UN, in implementing the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). “It’s very important to receive such strong support from Switzerland,” said Clark, the former prime minister of New Zealand who has headed…
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In total the government plans to collect about SFr61.9 billion and spend SFr62.5 billion. On top of that, authorities will pour an additional SFr1.1 billion into the Swiss Federal Railways pension fund and make a one-time payment of SFr850 million to an account for infrastructure projects. The government’s overall financial standing improved during the federal…
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Another thing that has stayed the same in the House of Representatives and the Senate is the small number of women. (All pictures: Keystone)
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