The proposed commission would investigate possible individual misconduct and institutional failures within the department responsible for the acquisition. It would also seek to determine whether weaknesses in the process went beyond errors or misunderstandings.
The Social Democrats want investigators to examine whether competing bidders received discriminatory treatment. They also question whether purchase and operating costs were deliberately distorted in favour of the F-35.
The inquiry would additionally assess information provided by the defence ministry about dependence on the aircraft’s supplier. The party wants to establish whether the ministry gave incorrect information on that issue.
The Social Democrats confirmed their plans to the Keystone-SDA news agency on Sunday following a report in the *SonntagsZeitung*. Senator Franziska Roth, the party’s security policy specialist, is leading the initiative.
Asked about support from other parliamentary groups, the party said anyone seeking to restore confidence should ensure a “full clarification”. A parliamentary commission of inquiry would provide the mechanism for that wider review.
Former Social Democrat parliamentarian Pierre-Alain Fridez called for such a commission last Thursday. He said the controversy over information about a fixed price appeared to involve more than a simple misunderstanding.
In an interview with Tamedia publications, Fridez said he was convinced that those responsible had deliberately made false statements to secure approval for the F-35 purchase. The claim forms part of the political pressure for a broader investigation.
The Greens are expected to support the proposal. Its chances of approval nevertheless appear limited because centre-right parties hold a majority in parliament.
Source: swissinfo.ch
