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With a surprisingly clear vote of 22:0, with two abstentions, the Legal Affairs Committee of the Swiss National Council passed a committee initiative that intends to temporarily suspend the exemption for the acquisition of real estate properties used for commercial purposes, which applies under the Lex Koller. According to the committee, this initiative shall prevent Swiss businesses, which have come under pressure as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, from being forced to sell their business premises at favorable prices to foreign companies. The initiative is now being considered by the Legal Affairs Committee of the Swiss Council of States and could, if approved and if the legislative amendment is declared urgent, be passed by the Swiss parliament and put into force within a few months.