Non-Swiss men resident in the alpine nation could soon face a new tax, under plans proposed by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP). Supporters hope that a new "security levy" will help boost defence spending, while opponents have labelled the measure as discriminatory.

Switzerland debates security levy to be paid by foreign residents

Speaking in parliament, SVP National Councillor Alfred Heer announced that the party would be pushing for a new “security levy.” He confirmed in a motion submitted to parliament that the charge would apply to men with Swiss residence permits and would be modelled on the military replacement levy applied to male Swiss citizens who do not complete national service.

Currently, men aged between 19 and 37 who refuse or are deemed unfit to serve must make 11 annual payments amounting to 3 percent of their annual salary or taxable income. Under the plans, this levy would be extended to all foreign men of the same age, affecting approximately 389.000 people. 

With the military replacement levy earning the government 170 million francs a year from 196.800 people, the proposed security levy would likely earn federal authorities millions more.

Switzerland ramps up military spending

The proposal comes as Switzerland continues to ramp up spending on the military. With Swiss Army head Thomas Süssli admitting back in February that the military could not defend the country for long if attacked, and amid ongoing concerns about the quality and quantity of equipment available to the armed forces, the government hopes to increase spending by four billion francs, up to 1 percent of gross domestic product by 2030.

However, this desire comes at a time when the federal government is also planning major austerity measures, in part to fund the military build-up. This has led some in parliament to debate new measures to pay for the extra defence spending, without having to cut other programmes as dramatically.

Foreigners should pay tax in "solidarity" with Swiss men, SVP argues

Speaking to 20 Minuten, Heer argued that “a good quarter of the population” who are not Swiss benefit from the “solidarity effort by young Swiss men” without having to pay or serve themselves. “For reasons of solidarity and equal treatment”, it was therefore right for foreign men to pay the levy.

“[It is an] idea worth examining” admitted Centre Party National Councillor Martin Candinas. FDP councillor Heinz Theiler agreed, claiming that "there are many foreigners who grow up here and postpone their naturalisation so that they don't have to do military service."

Measure gives all the responsibility with none of the rights, SP counters

On the flip side, Social Democratic National Councillor Priska Seiler Graf said that under the plans expats would be given all the obligations while being “not accommodated at all” when it came to rights. She added that for her party to support the security levy, expats should be given the right to vote. 

The Group for a Switzerland without an Army added in a statement that expats already pay their fair share through taxes and contributions to social security, and prop up the military through their role in the healthcare system. What’s more, the Swiss Officers’ Society is also opposed to the measure, with Colonel Dominik Knill calling the idea “discriminatory.”

The measure is now expected to be debated and voted on in both chambers of parliament. If it passes all the stages, the reform will require a referendum to be made into law.