Geneva president continues to deny conflict of interest
A report by Swiss public broadcaster SRF has uncovered documents showing that Lebanese businessmen linked to under-fire Geneva President Pierre Maudet are involved in a construction project near the city’s airport.
The ‘Rundschau’ television programme said on Wednesday that Capvest, owned by one of the Lebanese organisers of Maudet’s controversial 2015 expenses-paid trip to Abu Dhabi, has received preliminary go-ahead to develop a tract of land near Geneva’s Cointrin airport.
Citing “confidential protocols and contracts” seen by its journalists, Rundschau claimed that Capvest bought CHF18.5 million ($19 million) of farmland where it plans to build a football centre as part of a public-private project along with local authorities.
The re-zoning of the land still needs to be approved by the cantonal parliament. If it passes, Rundschau says, the company hopes to also gain approval to build an office district – along with restaurants and cultural centres.
Maudet, who voted to greenlight the construction project in the cantonal government (he is its head as well as in charge of the security department), denied that there was a conflict of interest.
In a written statement sent to Rundschau, he clarified that it was not the government itself but rather the heirs of the Tissot watch-making company that decided to sell the land to Capvest, a company controlled by Lebanese businessman Magid Khoury.
“The Geneva government played no role in the search for or choosing of an investor,” he wrote. “The canton did not sign any contract or agreement with this investor.”
Pending investigation
SRF cited opposition politicians from Geneva who said that the links between the politician and the company meant that preferential treatment was possible, and that Maudet, a member of the centre-right Radical Party, should have abstained from the vote.
The leader of the conservative right People’s Party in Geneva, Thomas Bläsi, said the decision not to step aside for such a vote was “careless”.
The former Federal Council candidate initially said that it was a private trip, paid for by a friend. But the head of Geneva’s cantonal government last week acknowledged “having hidden part of the truth”.
The public prosecutor says Maudet accepted flights and accommodation for himself, his family, and his chief of staff amounting to several tens of thousands of Swiss francs. It says the costs were paid for by the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Zayed bin Al-Nahyan, who had invited him to watch a Formula 1 race.
It added that there were several members of the Geneva property sector involved in the organisation of the trip, without giving further information.
The affair and speculation have caused a media storm that has rippled out from Geneva to the rest of Switzerland. Maudet has personally agreed to waive his own immunity to allow the investigation to go ahead.
Switzerland condemned for deciding to deport gay Iranian
This content was published on
Switzerland violated the prohibition on inhuman treatment by considering that a gay Iranian could be returned to his country.
Gestational diabetes found to increase risk of adult-onset diabetes
This content was published on
A research team from the Lake Geneva region has identified persistent dysfunctions in glucose regulation in women with gestational diabetes. In the long term, this can increase the risk of adult-onset diabetes by up to ten times.
Swiss village must be evacuated by midday on Sunday
This content was published on
The village of Brienz-Brinzauls in eastern Switzerland, which is threatened by a rockfall, must be evacuated by 1pm on Sunday. All residents must leave the village.
This content was published on
A former judge of the Graubünden Administrative Court in eastern Switzerland has been found guilty of rape, sexual harassment and threatening a former trainee.
Costs and care time increase in Swiss retirement and nursing homes
This content was published on
In 2023 the costs of retirement and nursing homes increased by 5% compared to 2022 and those of assistance and care at home by 7%. Together, they amounted to CHF15 billion.
This content was published on
Almost half of the population in Switzerland shows clear to pronounced signs of smartphone addiction, according to a survey.
Swiss healthcare stakeholders want to save CHF300 million
This content was published on
The main players in the Swiss healthcare sector want to save around CHF300 million ($340 million) in healthcare costs a year from 2026.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Geneva politician benefit case causes shockwaves
This content was published on
Geneva cantonal public prosecutor says it wants to open an investigation into the head of the Geneva cantonal government Pierre Maudet.
This content was published on
The time is ripe to properly organise the development of Greater Geneva, Pierre Maudet, the new Geneva president, tells swissinfo.ch.
This content was published on
The Geneva politician has spoken out for the first time since being accused of having accepted benefits for a controversial trip to Abu Dhabi in 2015.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.