The Senate on Wednesday followed the House of Representatives, agreeing an additional CHF1.5 billion to compensate businesses for loss of income due to the Covid pandemic.
Following several rounds of debates in both chambers over the past two weeks, parliamentarians increased the planned government expenditure by CHF1.65 billion, notably for agriculture, education and rights of the child.
Projected total revenue for 2021 is CHF75.8 billion against just under 82 billion in expenditure.
About CHF6.6 billion are earmarked for various government measures to soften the impact of the Covid crisis.
During the discussions in parliament, Finance Minister Ueli Maurer commented that the Covid crisis ended 15 years of annual surplus in government financesExternal link.
The government hopes to cope without drastic spending cuts in the next few years, he added.
Last year, the national surplus was CHF3.1 billion and the debts totaled CHF96.9 billion – 13.9% of Gross Domestic Product.
More
More
Swiss Politics
Government boasts (another) surplus year
This content was published on
The government announced on Wednesday that it will end the year with a budget surplus more than double of what was forecasted.
Police arrest 20 thieves and pickpockets in Swiss tourism hotspots
This content was published on
The operation was carried out in the Interlaken, Grindelwald and Lauterbrunnen regions, as well as at popular tourist attractions such as the Jungfraujoch.
UBS allegedly considering moving headquarters to the US
This content was published on
Rumours of UBS moving to the United States have resurfaced, just as the Swiss Senate is due to take up the issue of tightening capital requirements.
This content was published on
Two trams collided in Zurich Oerlikon on Monday afternoon. Three people suffered moderate injuries, including the two drivers.
Historic WTO fisheries agreement enters into force
This content was published on
The agreement to eliminate fisheries subsidies, concluded at the World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial in Geneva in 2022, has entered into force.
Switzerland budgets CHF28 billion for research and education
This content was published on
A total of CHF28.1 billion ($31.7 billion) will be invested in Swiss education, research and innovation over the next four years.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.