Parliamentary committee supports swissinfo
A parliamentary committee has come out against the "radical" cutbacks at swissinfo.
In a statement, the committee said swissinfo’s mandate as a news service for the Swiss abroad should be a priority for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation (SBC).
The SBC announced on March 22 that it would axe up to 80 jobs and eight language services at swissinfo, leaving only a reduced English department. Internet services in the national languages – German, French and Italian – would continue to be produced by SBC’s regional units.
The move should result in annual savings of SFr15 million ($12.4 million). The decision is, however, subject to government approval.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives said that a majority of committee members – 16 to seven – had come out against the cuts at swissinfo.
The committee, which reviews Swiss foreign policy issues, also called for swissinfo’s public-service mandate to remain a priority for the SBC.
“From the point of view of the majority of the commission, the services offered [by swissinfo], which are a valuable source of information for the Swiss abroad, must be maintained in their current amplitude,” wrote the committee.
No comment
But the committee said it did not want to comment on the financial aspects of the situation, while a minority saw no reason to comment on the SBC’s strategy at all.
It added that Foreign Minister Micheline Calmy-Rey and Economics Minister Joseph Deiss had attended Tuesday’s meeting.
The Traffic and Communications Commission is also due to look into the SBC’s decision on May 3. In June, the House of Representatives is expected to discuss swissinfo as part of an ongoing parliamentary debate on the new radio and television law.
swissinfo was launched in 1999 as the internet arm of Swiss Radio International. It is available in nine languages: English, German, French, Italian, Arabic, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese and Japanese.
The decision to cut the site back – just one year after a previous round of restructuring – has already been criticised by the Council of the Swiss Abroad, which represents the interests of more than 600,000 expatriates.
swissinfo’s public council – which assesses whether the site is carrying out its mandate – has also condemned the decision.
The SBC says that it has to reduce swissinfo in response to the government’s decision to end funding for the site. It maintains that swissinfo will still have an English service and produce special dossiers in national languages for the Swiss abroad.
swissinfo
The House of Representatives and Senate Foreign Affairs Committees cover foreign policy issues including relations with the European Union.
The two committees review Switzerland’s activities within international organisations such as the United Nations, the OSCE and Nato.
They deal with topics linked to globalisation, neutrality and diplomacy.
swissinfo/Swiss Radio International cut 25 jobs last year after losing its government subsidy.
This latest restructuring could result in between 70 and 80 job losses by the end of 2006.
swissinfo will be reduced to an English department. The other eight services will be cut.
The decision is still subject to government approval.
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