Federal Councilor in charge of the economy Guy Parmelin justifies the reasons why the Federal Council does not want Switzerland to join the international task force responsible for tracking down the money of Russian oligarchs. Membership is not in Switzerland’s interest, he said at the NZZ am Sonntag.
“In an increasingly polarized world, Switzerland has an interest, as a neutral country, in maintaining a certain reserve,” indicated the Federal Councilor.
There could be pressure within this institution for Switzerland to take back, in addition to EU sanctions, those of the United States for example.
Guy Parmelin warns against an intensification of pressure on Berne in the event of accession. “There could be pressure within this institution for Switzerland to take back, in addition to EU sanctions, those of the United States for example.” According to him, Switzerland must retain its freedom of decision on this issue.
The Federal Council could, however, review its position if major financial centers, such as Singapore, join the taskforce. The government would “certainly” re-examine the question in this case, specifies the Vaudois.
Motion in Parliament
The National Council must vote next week on a motion from the Greens in favor of joining the Taskforce. Diplomats from France, Italy, Germany, the United States, Canada, Japan and the United Kingdom asked Switzerland in March to become more involved in the search for Russian money.
The Federal Council voted against the Greens’ motion. In the media, the president of the PLR Thierry Burkart, on the other hand, said he was in favor of Switzerland joining the task force, thus rallying the PS, the Center and the Vert’liberaux. The head of the Swiss Bankers Association (SBA) also recently declared that he saw little reason to oppose Switzerland’s participation.