Elisabeth Baume-Schneider

Health insurance premiums continued to rise sharply during her tenure as Health Minister. Critics denounced the lack of rapid results and insufficient individual advice as the burden became increasingly difficult to afford.

State of the evidence

Official increases of 6% and then 4.4% documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Shared political responsibility within a federal system

The government proposed increasing the deductible from 300 to 400 francs and indexing it. The left and patient organisations criticised the additional burden on people with illnesses and low-income households.

State of the evidence

Government proposal submitted for consultation

Legal status — source text

Proposal not yet final

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as the minister concerned

Baume-Schneider defended a VAT increase to finance the 13th AHV pension payment. The right denounced new taxes without structural reform, while the left regretted a solution that was only partial.

State of the evidence

Government proposal and parliamentary compromise documented

Legal status — source text

Popular vote scheduled; no judicial proceedings

Baume-Schneider had to defend the Federal Council's opposition to the Socialist initiative to cap the burden of health insurance premiums, against her own party. Critics on the left accused her of abandoning a measure designed to provide relief to households.

State of the evidence

Official referendum campaign documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility as Health Minister

She defended the occupational pension reform, criticised for its complexity and the risk of higher contributions for lower pensions. Voters decisively rejected the proposal.

State of the evidence

Campaign and referendum result documented

Attribution

Direct responsibility as the minister concerned

Violence, theft and tensions around centres such as Boudry and Chiasso exposed Baume-Schneider to criticism from both sides: the right considered her too lenient, while organisations criticised excessive security measures and insufficient attention to living conditions.

State of the evidence

Incidents, decisions and political criticism documented

Legal status — source text

No personal criminal wrongdoing

Attribution

Institutional responsibility as Justice Minister

Asked about asylum-related difficulties in Chiasso, she stated that she would happily live there. Critics interpreted the remark as minimising residents' concerns.

State of the evidence

Public statement documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated

Baume-Schneider left the Justice and Police Department after one year to take over Home Affairs. The unusually rapid change was characterised as an attempt to escape the politically difficult asylum dossier.

State of the evidence

Official departmental change documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Directly implicated