Swiss Parliament approves 517 million francs for agriculture

The Swiss Parliament has approved 517 million francs for agricultural accompanying measures over six years, a significantly higher amount than the 158 million francs originally requested by the Federal Council. This decision follows negotiations regarding the Mercosur free trade agreement.

Data obtained through freedom of information requests reveals the distribution of direct agricultural subsidies among members of Parliament. Didier Calame (SVP) received the highest amount at 239,217 francs in 2025, followed by Sylvain Freymond (SVP) with 167,246 francs and Alois Huber (SVP) with 151,926 francs. Other recipients include Marcel Dettling (SVP) and Kilian Baumann (Greens).

While some parliamentarians provided data, others, including Martin Hübscher, Andreas Meier, and Thomas Stettler, declined to disclose specific figures. Meanwhile, the Federal Council has initiated the consultation process for the 2030 agricultural policy (AP30+), aiming to shift subsidies from strict adherence to instructions toward achieving concrete ecological and animal welfare results.