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Report·Staat, Institutionen, Demokratie·Document finding
Finance Committee of the National Council clearly supports establishing a Parliament visitor and information centre
By 15 votes to 8, with 1 abstention, the Finance Committee of the National Council (FC-NC) proposes that its Council approve commitment appropriations totalling CHF 733.8 million for the implementation of various civilian construction projects (26.040 n). The core of the Federal Council’s proposal is the refurbishment and extension of the Swiss National Library and the comprehensive refurbishment of the Swiss Embassy in London. In particular, the commitment appropriation of CHF 44.2 million for the supplementary lease and tenant fit-out of the planned Parliament visitor and information centre on Federal Square in Bern prompted discussion. The majority supports this project and emphasises how important it is to strengthen dialogue between politics and the public. Our democratic institutions must be made visible and tangible to the public. Since the current capacity of the Parliament Building does not meet high demand, such a centre could make a valuable contribution to imparting knowledge about Switzerland’s political system and also provide the general public with easy access.