The Swiss voice in the world since 1935
Top stories
Stay in touch with Switzerland

Guilty verdict against right-wing politician confirmed

Jean-Luc Addor and attorney leave court
Jean-Luc Addor (left) leave the courthouse at a hearing earlier this year. Keystone / Laurent Gillieron

A right-wing Swiss politician has been found guilty of racial discrimination for comments made on social media.

The highest court on Wednesday confirmed a previous verdict delivered by lower courts against Jean-Luc Addor, parliamentarian from canton Valais for the Swiss People’s Party, three years’ ago.

He was given a suspended fine of CHF18,000 ($19,600) for his remarks that contravened the Swiss racial discrimination law.

The Federal Court said the comments of the defendant on Twitter and Facebook could be read as a call for more violence.

Minutes after a man was shot to death inside a mosque in the eastern town of St Gallen in 2014, Addor wrote “On en redemande!” (“Let’s have more!”) on his social media accounts.

Addor, a former court clerk and judge, had claimed that his comments were a form of irony.

He has a reputation for provocative and ambiguous public statements.

Popular Stories

Most Discussed

News

'Leopard 1 A5' combat tanks in Germany.

More

Switzerland eyes joining EU rearmament programme

This content was published on The Federal Council wants to explore the possibilities of joining the European Union’s €800-billion rearmament programme without compromising Swiss neutrality.

Read more: Switzerland eyes joining EU rearmament programme
Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day

More

Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day

This content was published on On July 14, the Swiss Air Force will take part in the traditional air parade in Paris to mark the French bank holidays with an F/A-18 fighter jet. This is a first for Switzerland.

Read more: Premiere for Swiss Air Force on French National Day
Industry calls for "lean implementation" of the EU treaty package

More

Swiss industry backs EU treaty package

This content was published on The Swiss business umbrella organisation Economiesuisse and the employers' association broadly support the package of agreements negotiated with the European Union.

Read more: Swiss industry backs EU treaty package

In compliance with the JTI standards

More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative

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.

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR

SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR