Zug,21.11.2017

Interim report indicates number of members of cantonal government to remain at seven

In autumn of last year the cantonal parliament handed in a report to the cantonal government entitled “Government and Administration 2019” in which it was proposed to reduce the number of cantonal government departments, and hence the number of members of the cantonal government, to five, rather than seven as present. The government duly considered this, but, in an interim report published last week, it concluded seven departments would remain, and that there would continue to be seven members of the cantonal government, too.
 
In explaining the cantonal government’s stance in this matter, its head, Manuela Weichelt-Picard (second photograph), pointed out that the government’s overriding priority was to ensure the continuance of a cost-effective and efficient administration, and indeed through the maintenance of seven balanced and homogeneously-thematic departments as at present, thereby avoiding a plethora of small sub-departments. What is more, an independent parliamentary committee also looking at the matter agreed.
 
Weichelt-Picard went on to explain that, in recent years, the existing departments had developed in different ways, particularly with regard to the number of employees. In the government’s latest proposals, it was suggested various related areas should work more closely together, thereby also reducing the number of interfaces. “What is clear,” continued Weichelt-Picard, “is that the smallest department, that of health, is to expand to take over responsibilities from other departments. Hence the current Department of Health is to become the Department of Health and the Environment, though the names of the other six departments will remain as they are.” However, she pointed out that there could still be some merging of advisory centres, especially those where there were fewer than 15 employees, and cited the Offices of Agriculture, Sport, Housing and Culture as examples.
 
In keeping to seven departments, the cantonal government is thereby rejecting the FDP party’s proposal for a “presidential-style” system and its suggestion to have a “Department of Extra Cantonal Affairs” and appoint “an ambassador” to set out Zug’s case more strongly in its dealings with national parliament and government in Bern. Weichelt-Picard pointed out that the cantonal government saw no advantage in this, and that it would not enjoy much political acceptance.
 
Furthermore, the afore-mentioned advisory committee felt it was in order for the cantonal government to set up its departments as it saw fit, which Weichelt-Picard considered a great vote of confidence in it (the cantonal government).
 
Parliamentary debate on the matter is to continue until the first quarter of 2018. If what they propose is in broad agreement with the advisory committee, then the government will be given the green light to proceed, changes duly being implemented from 2019 onwards. What is clear is that here will still be elections for seven members to the cantonal government in 2018. In the event of parliament insisting on a reduction to five, then a referendum would be necessary.