Will the federal government soon put together a new monster aid package? Afflicted companies are said to receive a billion francs. This is how much money those affected by hardship from tourism, events or the concert industry demand. The 400 million promised so far by the federal government and the cantons have never been enough.
Can you let certain businesses down or not? Corona cash injections are the big bone of contention in the SRF arena. SP National Councilor get into rhetorical combat Jacqueline Badran, SVP National Council Thomas Matter, Green National Council Gerhard Andrey and Peter Grünenfelder from Avenir Suisse. Jan Egbert Sturm from the economic research center KOF at ETH and an epidemiologist will also be there Marcel Salathé.
For once, however, the second row of guests ensures the great emotions in the arena. Food truck entrepreneur Samira Luna Doberer experience first hand what the corona misery means. Because all events are prohibited, your aperitif mobile has to stay in the garage. Accordingly, the till remains empty.
–
—-«Innovative companies are driven to the wall. Many families are facing the end. ” Samira Luna Doberer, food truck entrepreneur
© SRF Screenshot
—
—
As an emergency solution, she opened an online shop and even a farm shop during the lockdown. This income is only a drop in the bucket for the Doberer family. For them the theoretical discussion of the federal politicians about corona hardship cases is a mockery: “There are so many families facing the end. Innovative companies are driven to the wall. You simply can’t get by in Switzerland with an income replacement of 1,000 to 2,000 francs per month, ”she says with a tear-choked voice and looks at SVP representative Matter.
He emphasizes that the industry will continue to be supported. The money should now flow quickly to the companies. “The state caused lockdown, so financially it has to stand up. But in the long term, the federal government cannot replace the economy, ”said the Zurich banker.
–
—-“We are in the largest state expansion since World War II” Christoph Stampfli
© SRF Screenshot
—
—
When reality meets politics, that’s one of those things. This also applies to the second exponent from the second row, Christoph Stampfli from independence party «Up! Switzerland”. The libertarian political troublemaker gives a lot of gas: He is annoyed by the ongoing short-time work. Pay billions to make healthy people sit on the sofa at home. “We are in the greatest state expansion since World War II.” That is absolute madness. People will pay for it for decades and experience state regulation that will never go away.
You cannot ban business models for years and favor others. “The one who has the best lobby gets the most money. It just can’t be, »says Stampfli. Many travel agencies, for example, were already down before Corona. Now they would go into debt even more with government support, but later still go bankrupt.
“A lot of lifelong dreams are going to break”
SP Vice-President Badran says nothing at first about Stampfli’s votes and thinks about it. She certainly sees a “bit of truth” in the provocateurs’ statements. There is overcapacity in the tourism industry. But she warns against inaction: “Companies currently have no room for maneuver. Structural change cannot happen overnight. ” You have to accompany this process. Many companies would push out bankruptcy with a bang. “A lot of lifelong dreams are breaking. We’re going to see a wave of bankruptcies, ”warns Badran.
Does the state have to bail out every business like hell? “Of course not,” agrees Green Audrey. Many companies had used up their reserves after the first wave. “The house of cards has collapsed.” The nervousness of the companies concerned is increasing, according to the Freiburg IT entrepreneur, who speaks like a TV veteran in his first appearance in the arena. What is needed now is an unbureaucratic hardship program. “Affected people shouldn’t have to fill out forms for days to get a few breadcrumbs.”
Peter Grünenfelder, Director of Avenir Suisse, speaks of the “sweet poison of statism”. He is resisting additional funds. There is no need for hardship cases for the trade, but more parking spaces in the inner cities. “After the Corona crisis, the next crisis will definitely come.” That is why one must continue to rely on proven means such as short-time work.
–
—-Jan-Egbert Sturm, member of the Corona task force
© SRF Screenshot
—
—
But what does someone say who really needs to know? KOF head Egbert Sturm emphasizes that Switzerland did a lot of things right economically during the first lockdown with the Covid loan program. Now in the second wave you are faced with a situation similar to that in spring. Many companies ran the risk of sliding into solvency problems. “We need general measures so that the companies actually receive quick support.” The ETH researcher leaves open whether these should be new Covid loans or a hardship program.
The crucial question in all these discussions is anyway: How long will the whole corona crisis last? Despite the falling number of cases, the epidemiologist Salathé does not want to speak of a trend reversal yet. To do this, the number of cases would have to go down in the long term, not just for a week. “We have to do everything we can to ensure that we do not get into a yo-yo phase where the number of cases increases again,” continues Salathé. But the virologist sees a light at the end of the corona tunnel, not least because of the latest reports of success with the vaccines. “We are at the beginning of the end,” says Salathé hopefully.
Like everyone else, SVP National Councilor Thomas Matter hopes that the return to normality can begin in a few months. “A population that can no longer work becomes sick and impoverished,” he warns.
Even if hardship funds should flow soon, that is by no means the salvation for all those affected. Because these should only make up ten percent of annual sales. “Don’t give yourselves too much hope. It’s just a drop in the bucket. But we couldn’t get a majority more », summarizes SP-Badran somewhat frustrated.
— .
