CHF 4.35 million was allotted from the city budget to renovate the Galvanik cultural centre, but the local branch of the SVP deems that this is too much, and is tabling a motion for it to be reduced.

 

"The budget is too high," a party spokesman said. "CHF 2.5 million would have been enough, even if it would have meant being less perfectionist and providing less 'lofty' culture." There has not yet been a referendum on the subject, which is usually the case when such a significant amount of tax-payers' money is being spent.

 

The SVP is also against the fact that CHF 4.35 million would be going to one single institution, though this is more due to that fact that they consider the Galvanik to be a "symbol for the left-wing and Alternative Party who are already using it for their election campaigns".

 

The local parliament voted last week by 28 votes to five in favour of the budget – the five votes against coming from the SVP. The renovation work is due to start early next year with the grand reopening slated for November 2010.