Federal Council: no derogations for Swiss Guards

The Government is against the parliamentary initiative 19.429 to exempt Swiss Guards from the obligation to pay military tax for the duration of their service in the Vatican City State

The Federal Council does not accept that the Swiss Guards be exempted from the obligation to pay military tax for the duration of their service in the Vatican City State. It decided this at its meeting on May 12, 2021.
The Security Policy Committee of the National Council (CPS-CN) has approved a bill to exempt the Swiss Guards from paying the military exemption fee.

The Federal Council recognizes that the Swiss Guards perform a special and valuable service for the reputation of the Confederation abroad.
However, the Federal Council rejects the introduction of an exemption for Swiss Guards because they do not perform military service abroad, but police service for a foreign state.
In addition, the Swiss Guards do not carry out essential activities for the benefit of the Swiss population which would justify exemption from the tax.

No discrimination against other citizens or other faiths

In previous revisions of the Military Act the parliament has refrained from introducing such an exemption provision.
An exemption in the law for the Swiss Guards would violate the prohibition of discrimination against persons of other faiths, since only Swiss citizens of the Roman Catholic faith can become members of the Pontifical Swiss Guard.

A meeting between Guy Parmelin and Pope Francis at the Vatican.

Moreover, this exemption would violate the principle of equal treatment of all those subject to the tax.
With its decision, the Federal Council takes a position on the parliamentary initiative 19.429 “Exemption from military tax for Swiss Guards”.
Both Security Policy Committees followed up on the parliamentary initiative. On February 22, 2021, the CPS-CN approved the bill and its report.