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- “I will hand over my resignation early next week. And I will be a candidate for my own successor. “
- This is what Geneva State Councilor Pierre Maudet said at a press conference.
- The people of Geneva should have the last word, not the Governing Council of Geneva. He remains in office until a successor is “sworn in.”
- The election is expected to take place in early March 2021. Maudet said he would run as an independent candidate.
Geneva State Councilor Pierre Maudet announced his resignation at a press conference. He justified his resignation with the decision of his government colleagues, who had withdrawn the business development department the day before.
Fierce criticism
It was the last remaining area of responsibility as a member of the government. Maudet had already been deprived of numerous powers in September due to ongoing criminal proceedings. He had to give up the regional council, as well as control of the police and the airport.
Maudet was tough on his counterparts: the decision of the Council of State was above all an institutional problem, he criticized. The government does not have the legitimacy to completely disempower a counterpart chosen by the people, as is happening here. The move, incomprehensible to him, was a personal attack, another “targeted humiliation” and another attempt to sideline him.
Many absences in the department
On Wednesday, Maudet’s remaining economic development department was provisionally withdrawn by the General Council of State. The reason is a report from the cantonal personnel office after a pile of absences had accumulated in the department of Maudets in the Directorate of Economic Development.
An external expert listened to a large majority of employees and concluded that there were organizational, managerial, and interpersonal issues that challenged Maudet.
Therefore, Maudet has no department. Only a chief of staff remains at his side. At the moment, he no longer has any contact with his employees in the Directorate of Economic Development, Research and Innovation. Maudet continues to attend Geneva cantonal government meetings.
“Low point”
Most members of the Grand Council of Geneva expressed their satisfaction at Maudet’s announced resignation. “I should have done it two years ago,” said Serge Hiltpold (FDP) of the former Maudet party. “We have hit rock bottom once again in Geneva,” said former FDP president Alexandre de Senarclens.
For Sébastien Desfayes (CVP) it is “almost like a play. This decision will allow people to speak after months of hesitation. “
“It is the end of a melodrama. You could feel the tension in the executive, ”said Cristo Ivanov (SVP). For Ana Roch (MCG), the choice of replacement provides some “clarity”.
Sylvain Thévoz (SP) comments: “Finally! This is the only decision that was necessary. “It is too early for me to say whether the PS will present a candidate.” There have been too many lies and too many episodes, “says Marjorie de Chastonay (Greens).
Jean Burgermeister of the leftist Allianz Ensemble à Gauche also welcomed Maudet’s resignation, “which should have happened sooner.” The replacement election now allows a social debate on the politics of the canton.
