For example,
Switzerland: vbs paid 2.5 million:
ThoseExpensive reports for armaments projects
Not disclosed: Viola Amherd got help with Zurich’s lawyers for CHF 2.5 million
The VBS has been advised by the Homburger law firm for problematic armaments projects much more often than previously known. Moreover, This shows an internal list.
Under Viola Amherd, the defense department was often advised by the Homburger law firm from Zurich.
Photo: AFP
- The VBS has paid the Homburger law firm a total of CHF 2.5 million for consultations since 2021.
- The Zurich law firm advised VBS for almost all problematic armaments projects.
- SP-Standstädin Franziska Roth demands an immediate demolition of the cooperation with Homburg.
Viola Amherd and her team were certain that the fixed price for the F-35 applies without anytime. Nevertheless, According to the Defense Department (VBS), this was the case that several legal reports of renowned law firms confirmed this. Similarly, Two of the Expert reports came from the Zurich law firm Homburger. Moreover, But that’s not all. Meanwhile, The Homburger lawyers received orders in at least nine other areas from VBS since 2021. However,
Actually. Consequently, all departments of procurement and consulting mandates, which cost more than 50,000 francs, have to show on a list switzerland: vbs paid 2.5 million of public procurements. Similarly, Only one mandate from Homburger has been listed on this list in recent years. Nevertheless, But between the Bundeshaus. Similarly, the Prime Tower, where Homburger is based, there has been a lively exchange since at least 2021. Meanwhile, Especially in the second half of Amherd’s term. However, the VBS was discussed much more often by the law firm than previously known. For example,
Zurich law firm advised almost all problem projects of the VBS
Homburger has received a total of CHF 2.5 million for consulting mandates in the past four years. Nevertheless, This emerges from an internal list that this editorial team has received based on the public law. The client was the General Secretariat of the VBS and the Federal Armaments Office Armasuisse. The sum was transferred in more than 50 tranches.
So far it was only known how much the VBS Homburger for plausibility of the fighting jet purchase decision. for two more Expert opinion on F-35 from 2021 had paid. The report that was to confirm the festival price for the fighter jets won Armic head Urs Loher. after taking office in the summer of 2023. However, in the following years, the VBS paid another CHF 100,000 to Homburg for advisory services for F-35. The VBS leaves unanswered whether this is a late payment for the report. an additional legal information about the F-35. This on the grounds that negotiations with the USA are currently running through the F-35 contract.
The VBS spent an additional almost CHF 350,000 for advice on so-called government-to-government businesses in the armaments area. These are arms purchases that are not made directly from switzerland: vbs paid 2.5 million the manufacturer. Instead, Switzerland negotiates with the country of production. The currently largest projects that have been negotiated directly with a government are the F-35 and the Patriot purchase.
In addition. in almost all problem projects in recent years, the VBS was released on the Council of the Zurich law firm.
VBS gave themselves expensive advice on media questions
This also applies to the procurement of the scandal drone ADS15. The new one is currently examining VBS boss Martin Pfister the demolition of this projectBecause it brings so many problems. The educational drones, which should actually fly since 2019, still cannot explore Swiss airspace independently. So far, VBS has had around 305,000 francs on legal advice.
Again. again the definitive commissioning has been delayed-and the costs rise and increase: a Swiss Hermes drone at the military airfield in Emmen.
Foto: Georgios Kefalas (Keystone)
Another project that has made headlines is C2air, also called Florako. With it, the VBS wants to renew the monitoring of Swiss airspace for CHF 300 million. That was last autumn Project temporarily suspended due to a large number of problems. The VBS transferred CHF switzerland: vbs paid 2.5 million 145,000 to Homburger for “contract advice” for this project.
The VBS also claims the services of the law firm to modernize the telecommunications of the army. which has been delayed and more expensive to 1.6 billion. The lawyers were drawn to a sub -project for CHF 35,000. In 2023. federal financial control rated the time of the contract to the federal armaments company Ruag as “critical” for cost reasons. The actual procurement contract was still not concluded.
The VBS Homburger also contributed to inquiries from journalists. There were around CHF 175,000 for inquiries about the public law with which media can request delicate documents out. While procurements sometimes require complex international legal exams. it is particularly surprising that the VBS cannot rely on its own lawyers in such media inquiries.
“Bad advice on switzerland: vbs paid 2.5 million the F-35”: SP-Standstätin demands consequences
SP-Standstädin. Franziska Roth now demands: “VBS must end the cooperation with Homburgers immediately.” The suspicion suggests that the law firm had poorly advised the federal government on the F-35. “That must have consequences.” She also criticizes the department of the department. “If the federal government enters to Homburger despite its own review experts. such as the financial check, it can only mean that you do not trust your own administration or need a pleasure report.”
The VBS sees it differently. “The Homburger law firm can of course also be consulted for advice in the future,” says a spokeswoman. It also defends the payments in the millions. “The advice was rewarded according to the set tariffs.”
Last year, the VBS spoke for legal consultations for eight years of switzerland: vbs paid 2.5 million eight million francs. This money is planned for Homburger and five other law firms. However. the list does not show that the new Defense Minister Martin Pfister would have already given his own orders to Homburger.
Depending on the outcome with the USA. the assessment of Homburger with regard to fixed prices in the F-35 procurement could still have a legal aftermath. Peter V. Kunz. who heads the Institute for Business Law at the University of Bern, has already indicated to this editorial team that Homburger in the event of legal misjudgments liable for damages could become.
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Switzerland: vbs paid 2.5 million
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