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300 daily rates of 400 francs on probation: this is the verdict of the Councilor of State of Geneva, Pierre Maudet (42). In addition, Maudet has to pay 50,000 Swiss francs to the Geneva treasury as compensation. This is the verdict of the sole judge of the Geneva Police Court. Maudet was found guilty of profiting.
“I wanted to protect my family”
Maudet’s trial lasted a week. The prosecution accused him of taking advantage. It was a luxury trip to Abu Dhabi that he took with his family and his chief of staff in 2015. Business class flight, suite in a five-star hotel, invitation to the Formula 1 race: at the expense of the crown prince of the emirate, the governing council of Geneva had a good time.
In May 2018, the western Swiss media brought the political scandal to light. Maudet first claims to have paid for the trip out of his own pocket. As the pressure mounted, he admitted that he lied. “I wanted to protect my family, and I made a spontaneous and stupid mistake,” he later explained in an interview with BLICK.
What does that mean for the March 7 elections?
For Maudet, once the shooting star of the Swiss FDP and candidate for the Federal Council, now a party fighting for its political survival, the verdict comes at a politically decisive moment. After the government withdrew his last record as councilor of state, the now-non-party announced his resignation last fall. But he wants to run again. Replacement elections will be held on March 7, in just under two weeks. (sf)
