The Swiss voice in the world since 1935

Geneva councillor to throw in the towel over expenses scandal

© KEYSTONE / ANTHONY ANEX

Geneva Environment Councillor Guillaume Barazzone, caught up in an expenses scandal, will not seek reelection next year as a parliamentarian in Bern, and will leave the city council in June 2020, it has been confirmed.

The 36-year-old Christian Democrat city councilor was encouraged to withdraw from politics following the expenses scandal that hit the Geneva headlines earlier this month, Keystone-SDA said on Friday, confirming an earlier report in the Tribune de Genève. Barazzone plans to leave the House of Representatives in Bern next autumn and withdraw from the Geneva city council in June 2020.

The Tribune de Genève said he had written a letter to the local branch of his party explaining his decision to “preserve party unity”.

The councillor, who was city mayor from June 2016-May 2017, was one of five Geneva officials criticized in an audit office report on exorbitant expense claims, including champagne, taxis and telephone bills.

The environment councillor claimed CHF42,000 ($42,000) in expenses in 2017, including more than CHF17,000 in mobile phone expenses. He admitted “involuntary mistakes”, such as mixing up private and public credit cards, and announced he had reimbursed over CHF50,000 claimed since 2012.

The Office of the Attorney General of Geneva subsequently opened an investigation into the audit report accusations for alleged “dishonest management of public interests”.

Following the revelations, the municipal council gave a press conference where it stressed that most of the audit report’s recommendations had been taken on board. It added that new, stricter rules had been introduced for claiming expenses.

However, current Geneva Mayor Sami Kanaan said the council refused to submit to a “complete striptease” in which each councillor reveals their professional expenses and allowances every year as a mark of transparency.

More

Popular Stories

News

One person consumes 4.8 megawatt hours of electricity

More

One person consumes 4.8 megawatt hours of electricity

This content was published on On average, the Swiss consume 4.8 megawatt hours of electricity per year. According to Velobiz.de, this is roughly equivalent to the amount generated by all 176 cyclists in the Tour de France during the entire race.

Read more: One person consumes 4.8 megawatt hours of electricity
Lisa Mazzone criticises the Federal Council's neo-liberal policy

More

Foreign Affairs

Green party leader criticises government’s neo-liberal policy

This content was published on The Green Party delegates' meeting opened on Saturday morning in Vicques (JU) with a speech by party president Lisa Mazzone. Mazzone took particular aim at the Federal Council's policy towards the United States.

Read more: Green party leader criticises government’s neo-liberal policy
Safra Sarasin and a former asset manager sentenced

More

Swiss Politics

Safra Sarasin private bank and former asset manager sentenced

This content was published on The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland has fined private bank J. Safra Sarasin CHF3.5 million for aggravated money laundering. A former bank employee received a six-month suspended prison sentence.

Read more: Safra Sarasin private bank and former asset manager sentenced
1MDB affair: JPMorgan to pay CHF 270 million

More

Swiss Politics

JPMorgan to pay CHF270 million to settle 1MDB claims

This content was published on JPMorgan Chase has agreed to pay CHF270 million to the Malaysian government to settle all issues related to its role in the 1MDB financial scandal.

Read more: JPMorgan to pay CHF270 million to settle 1MDB claims
Philippe Lazzarini has overseen UNRWA since 2020.

More

Foreign Affairs

UNRWA boss Lazzarini to step down in March 2026

This content was published on Philippe Lazzarini will step down as head of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees (UNRWA) at the end of his term in March, he announced on Thursday.

Read more: UNRWA boss Lazzarini to step down in March 2026

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