Defense minister Pfister backs development aid in Swiss government dispute

Swiss Defense Minister Martin Pfister opposed plans to cut long-term development cooperation by almost a quarter and shift funding to humanitarian aid, internal documents show, SRF reported. The proposed changes would direct more money to aid for wars and natural disasters and less to long-term projects.

The plans, put forward in June by Federal Councillors Ignazio Cassis and Guy Parmelin alongside cost-cutting measures, faced opposition from Pfister’s department during the consultation before a government meeting. The Swiss Federal Department of Defence said the changes went “beyond the federal government’s cost-cutting mandate”.

In its submission, the department defended long-term development projects in areas including agriculture, education, health and migration. It also argued that development cooperation could contribute to security, a view it said was recognised by other countries.

The department called for a much more thorough analysis of the options and deeper discussion before restructuring international aid. Pfister was joined in opposing the plans by fellow Federal Councillors Beat Jans and Elisabeth Baume-Schneider. However, the four representatives of the FDP and Swiss People’s Party prevailed in the government.

Parliament will make the final decision. Support for the changes is also dividing Pfister’s Centre party. National Councillor Pius Kaufmann supports the proposed shift, saying some criticism of development projects was justified and that Parliament had increasingly needed to approve additional funding for humanitarian aid.

Centre parliamentarian Elisabeth Schneider-Schneiter opposes the changes. She said development cooperation creates stability and therefore security, and noted that substantial savings had already been made.

Development cooperation remains under pressure, with politicians to the right of the Centre calling for further cuts to fund the expansion of the army. Against this backdrop, Pfister’s support for development cooperation is particularly notable.