Geneva councillor to throw in the towel over expenses scandal
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.
This content was published on
2 minutes
Keystone-SDA/sb
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 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
More
Geneva expenses scandal sparks calls for more transparency
This content was published on
Members of the Geneva city council are under fire for claiming exorbitant amounts for expenses, such as champagne, taxis and telephone bills.
Employees in Switzerland increasingly stressed at work
This content was published on
The proportion of people in Switzerland who are stressed at work has increased by 5% over ten years, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
This content was published on
F/A-18 fighter jets will practice take offs and landings on the A1 motorway between Payerne and Avenches in canton Vaud on June 5.
Swisscom finalises financing for Vodafone Italia takeover
This content was published on
Telecoms group Swisscom has taken the next step in its takeover of Vodafone Italia and secured financing for the deal, the company said on Thursday.
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
Prosecutor opens criminal procedure over Geneva expenses scandal
This content was published on
The Office of the Attorney General of Geneva has opened an investigation into an expenses scandal concerning the Geneva city council.
Maudet steps aside from Geneva presidency amid scandal
This content was published on
Embroiled in controversy, Geneva President Pierre Maudet temporarily stepped down from his role as head of the cantonal government, the Swiss news agency Keystone-SDA reported on Thursday.
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.