Fiscal Transparency Laws — Switzerland

Switzerland

Finanzhaushaltsgesetz (FHG, SR 611.0), Finanzkontrollgesetz (FKG, SR 614.0), Bundesgesetz über das öffentliche Beschaffungswesen (BöB, SR 172.056.1)

Budget

✓ Required

Expenditure

✓ Required

Audit

✓ Required

Contracts

✓ Required

Beneficial Ownership

No

Fiscal Score

59

out of 100

Switzerland's federal fiscal transparency framework is grounded in the Finanzhaushaltsgesetz (FHG, SR 611.0) and the constitutional Schuldenbremse (BV Art. 126), adopted by popular referendum in December 2001. The Schuldenbremse requires cyclically adjusted budget balance, with individual borrowing decisions made by the Federal Assembly under the FHG framework — no per-issuance voter approval is triggered. The FHG mandates annual submission of the Voranschlag (budget) and four-year Finanzplan to the Federal Assembly. The Neues Rechnungsmodell (NRM 2007) implements full federal accrual accounting under FHG, producing a Staatsrechnung (annual accounts) with a Vermögensrechnung (balance sheet) covering assets, liabilities, pension provisions (PUBLICA), and contingent liabilities. The Eidgenössische Finanzkontrolle (EFK/SFAO, established under FKG SR 614.0) is the Supreme Audit Institution — operationally independent but appointed by the Federal Council (executive) for a 4-year renewable term, which is the sole departure from the cluster's parliamentary appointment baseline. Switzerland is non-EU; it is not subject to EU SGP, Fiscal Compact, or Two-Pack. Federal procurement operates under BöB SR 172.056.1 (revised 2021), implementing the WTO GPA 2012 via simap.ch. Switzerland has no dedicated independent fiscal council (IFI) and no comprehensive whistleblower statute — both score below the cluster baseline. Currency: CHF; fiscal year: calendar year. Scope: federal Bund only (26 Kantone operate under HRM2 harmonized cantonal framework).