Has the Zurich SVP President received a salary for his office?
politics
Zurich SVP President has allegedly received wages – contrary to his statements
Benjamin Fischer has not officially received a salary as President of the SVP Zurich. Research now shows that he probably received thousands of francs for his party office via a private donation account. The affair could have legal ramifications. The young politician defends himself against the allegations.
As President of the SVP of the Canton of Zurich, Benjamin Fischer has always emphasized that he will not be paid for his office. His only reward is “a wet handshake and a lot of joy and the satisfaction of doing something important for our canton and something for our country”, He said, for example, in an interview with the Tamedia newspapers in March.
Fischer, who also represents the largest SVP cantonal section in Switzerland in the National Council, attaches great importance to the militia system. “Party work must remain voluntary”, he said in another interview three years ago. “Once you start rewarding something, there is a risk that people will eventually only work for money.” But now it seems as if the 28-year-old young politician didn’t take it too seriously when it came to voluntary work.
According to research by «NZZ on Sunday» the SVP Zurich did not officially transfer wages to Benjamin Fischer. But in the background, donors are said to have compensated the young politician for his commitment. At least that is what emerges from an e-mail exchange that the newspaper has received. The party secretary at the time is said to have used it to solicit money for the president from a potential donor. The authenticity of the mail traffic cannot be checked; the newspaper does not provide any further details.
Is it all just a misunderstanding?
However, Benjamin Fischer denies the allegations in a statement to the newspaper. He emphasizes again that he “never received any money from the party”. However, he also admits that a “Benjamin Fischer Support Committee” has existed since 2011 and keeps a donation account. Fischer could not be reached for comment on Sunday.
According to Fischer, the e-mail traffic between the former party secretary and the anonymous donor is a misunderstanding. “If someone misunderstood in an internal e-mail exchange and gave the impression that it was the party that is collecting donations here, I’m sorry, but I don’t want to blame this person either,” he is quoted as saying “NZZ on Sunday”.
However, the matter could still have legal consequences for the young politician and the cantonal party. Especially if the Zurich SVP should have issued donation confirmations so that the expenses that have arrived on the private account can be deducted from taxes. At least that is what the quoted e-mail traffic suggests. In Zurich, donations may only be deducted from parties, but not donations to individual candidates.
SVP Switzerland insists on the autonomy of the cantonal parties
And what does the parent party say about the Zurich compensation story? The spokeswoman for SVP Switzerland also referred to the autonomy of the cantonal parties on Sunday. This also applies to the question of whether – and if so how – this compensation for offices should be claimed.
Benjamin Fischer announced in May that he would step down as party president of the SVP Zurich after two and a half years in office. He gave reasons for the resignation. The party leadership proposes cantonal councilor Domenik Ledergerber as his successor. His election is to take place at the delegates’ meeting on August 23. (dpo/sat)