Parliament’s visitor and information centre: referral back and further clarification

Oct 23, 2026, 3:30 PM · Bundesklar Redaktion

As part of its preliminary consideration of the 2026 dispatch on civilian federal buildings, the Finance Committee of the Council of States proposes referring the part of the proposal concerning Parliament’s visitor and information centre back to the Federal Council or the Administrative Delegation respectively, with instructions to establish the visitor centre in a property owned by the Confederation and to seek a leaner operating solution.

The rent of 19.6 million francs over twelve years, the tenant fit-out costing 24.6 million francs (to be borne by the Confederation) and the reserves of 5.1 million francs did not find favour with the committee majority. By 7 votes to 6, the committee proposes splitting the Federal Council’s proposal into two drafts (the visitor centre and the remaining property projects). The committee proposes that, after the split, the visitor centre proposal be referred back to the Federal Council or Parliament’s Administrative Delegation respectively, with instructions to establish the visitor centre in a property owned by the Confederation or to examine purchasing the property at Bundesplatz 2 in Bern, and to seek a leaner operating solution (fewer additional staff and lower annual expenditure).

Source · Original text of the FC-S

Finance Committee of the Council of States (FC-S): «Besuchs- und Informationszentrum des Parlaments: Rückweisung und zusätzliche Abklärungen», 23 October 2026. In the German version, the title, lead and text paragraph are reproduced verbatim. This English version is a translation. https://www.parlament.ch/press-releases/Pages/mm-fk-s-2026-10-23.aspx?lang=1031

Parliament’s visitor and information centre: referral back and further clarification

Source · Original text of the FC-S

Sources