F-35: opponents do not withdraw their popular initiative

Does the “Stop F-35” initiative still make sense? After Defense Minister Viola Amherd’s decision, the question arises. The Federal Councilor and her services consider it impossible to prepare a popular vote before signing the contract for the purchase of the combat aircraft: the timetable is too tight, and prevents the object from being treated with the necessary care. The Federal Council and parliament should indeed decide “urgently” these days, so that the government can, on November 9 at the latest, set the date of the ballot for March 12, 2023. The offer to purchase from the American manufacturer Lockheed Martin expires on March 31, 2023. It covers 36 devices at 6.035 billion francs, which are valued in total at 15.5 billion over thirty years of use. The left and a right-wing citizens’ committee contest these calculations, the jet being known in the United States for its high costs and technical problems.