Bern, Switzerland (Le Matin, Fre) – Hans-Rudolph Merz, president and also the finance minister of Switzerland, Tuesday argued in Parliament that the country should retain its policy of offering international sports organizations tax-free status because of the jobs they create and the business they bring to the hotel industry.
Merz was participating in a parliamentary debate requested by a member of the right-wing UDC party who objects to the groups being given tax favours.
Switzerland is home to many such organizations, the best-known of which is perhaps the International Olympic Committee in Lausanne. Others include the international federations for several sports, notably UEFA and FIFA for football, but also those for basketball, volleyball and cycling.
