Swiss judges pay around CHF3 million in annual ‘taxes’ to political parties

In 2023, Swiss judges paid “mandate taxes” to their political parties worth almost CHF3 million ($3.4 million), according to a report by Swiss public television, RTS. Some federal judges pay up to CHF22,000 each to their party. This system, which is opaque and not based on any legal rules, is strongly criticised by the magistrates themselves, who are calling for its abolition. It is a sort of a ritual unique to the Swiss judicial system. Federal and cantonal judges, with a few exceptions, are required to pay what are called “mandate taxes” to their party. These are sometimes fixed amounts or percentages of their salary. This tax, which has no legal basis, is considered a contribution by magistrates to the political parties of which they are members. In Switzerland, the vast majority of judges are members of a political party. Federal and cantonal parliamentarians propose candidates for positions in the judiciary, based on a system that reflects the political weight of the parties.