2024-03-11 06:15:18
The right-wing conservative Swiss People’s Party (SPP), which has the largest faction in parliament, opposed negotiations on the development of ties with the European Union, the mandate for which was approved by the Federal Council (government). SNP Chairman Marco Chiesa said in an interview with the Blick newspaper that “linking to the EU” is very dangerous, since the country’s independence is under threat, Day.Az reports with reference to TASS.
“With this negotiating mandate, the Federal Council approves the complete subordination of Switzerland to the EU,” the politician said. “Institutional linkage to the EU poses a huge danger,” he noted, explaining that “the identity and independence” of the country are at stake. According to Chiesa, the danger is, in particular, that in the future EU law will have to “automatically apply in Switzerland.” In addition, billions will have to be transferred to Brussels, and the Swiss population will no longer have the right to speak out, he noted. Chiesa explained that he “has nothing against close economic ties.” However, he is “against EU citizens coming to Switzerland to plunder” the country’s social system.
The politician called the arbitration mechanism that is supposed to be created to resolve disputes between Switzerland and the EU “purely decorative”. “In the end, it is the European Court that will make decisions, and they are binding,” the SNP chairman emphasized. “This will be the end for Switzerland as we know it,” Chiesa said, recalling that his country, unlike the European Union, has a system of direct democracy, implemented through referendums at which the most important decisions are made. He also drew attention to the growing number of Italians coming to work in his native canton of Ticino, which leads to “declining wages.” “Purchasing power has not increased in Ticino. You can always find an Italian willing to work for less money,” Chiesa said.
Answering a question about what specific threats the agreement with Brussels might pose, Chiesa noted that the German railway concern Deutsche Bahn is “provoking chaos everywhere with strikes and delays.” However, the EU, according to the SNP chairman, wants Switzerland to open its rail network to foreign operators. As follows from the interview, the SNP will launch a public campaign against the conclusion of an agreement with the EU from March 12.
On March 8, the Swiss Federal Council approved a mandate for negotiations with the European Union, the country’s largest economic partner, on further development of ties. We are talking, in particular, about such areas as transport, energy, agricultural policy, labor migration and institutional issues.