Leading politician rejects Anglo-Saxon capitalism

A leading centre-left parliamentarian, Franco Cavalli, has poured scorn on suggestions by the boss of the Credit Suisse group that Switzerland should reform its political system along the lines of the United States and Britain.

A leading centre-left parliamentarian has poured scorn on suggestions that Switzerland should reform its political system along the lines of the United States and Britain, after the head of the Credit Suisse group said the country needed to undergo radical privatisation therapy.

Franco Cavalli, the Social Democrat’s parliamentary leader, outlined his vision of Switzerland’s future in the Sonntags Blick newspaper, two weeks after Credit Suisse boss, Lukas Mühlemann, called for sweeping political reforms.

Cavalli rejected Mühlemann’s call for the scaling back of the social welfare system, saying the better off in Switzerland must do more to help alleviate the country’s social problems.

He poured cold water on Mühlemann’s suggestions that public services be privatised, saying this would damage essential services, such as hospitals, schools, transport systems and the post office.

Cavalli did not shy away from reform altogether, but he made plain that any changes should be aimed at eliminating poverty, and improving quality of life for everyone.

Among the proposals he outlined were a drastic reduction in health insurance premiums, a minimum wage of Sfr3,000 per month, lower taxes for families, and a reduction in prices for services offered by private companies which enjoy monopolies.

He also called for cantonal banks to lend money more readily to start-up businesses, and said the environment should be better protected.

From newspaper and wire reports