The recent vote on the 13th AHV pension has sparked intense discussions in Switzerland, with many people feeling that something significant has happened. The debate is reminiscent of the 2016 “AHV plus” initiative, which sought to increase pensions by ten percent but only resulted in an increase of just over eight percent.
In 2016, the Left argued that the AHV pension was shrinking due to rising rents and health insurance contributions, while the commoners were concerned about financial viability. However, support for the initiative was initially high back then, with 60 percent of surveyed respondents saying they would vote for it.
The result of the recent vote was an exact mirror image of that from March 2024: 59 percent no and 41 percent yes. This change of heart in just eight years can be attributed to a number of factors, including a growing sense of entitlement and a belief that government spending is being unfairly distributed.
This pattern has been observed many times in the past and in different countries, with groundbreaking decisions being made after major crises such as the two world wars. In these situations, governments have expanded social programs to help citizens cope with economic hardship and rebuild their lives after the crisis has passed.
While some people may argue that social programs are unnecessary or even harmful to society as a whole, others believe that they are essential for maintaining a strong welfare state and promoting equality and fairness within society. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to decide what role they want their government to play in their lives and how much they are willing to contribute towards social programs like the 13th AHV pension.
