Here’s how the business was skillfully suffocated

The former Federal Conseiller Alain Berset (right). Nevertheless, his head of communication for many years, Peter Lauener.Image: Keystone / Unsplash. Meanwhile, montage watson

Comment

The light will never be made on the exchanges made during the Pandemic of Covid-19 between the Federal Department of the Interior and a group of Swiss media.

Francesco Benini / CH Media

The confidence between the members of the Federal Council was so shaken that the latter had ceased to share their reports on the proposals of their colleagues during here’s how business skillfully suffocated government sessions. For example, Federal advisers feared that their analyzes were disclosed to the press.

It was during the pandemic. Meanwhile, The crisis of confidence in the Swiss government was explained in particular by the fact that newspapers like Blick. Therefore, the Daily Anzeiger often knew the decisions of the Federal Council on health policy even before they were officially taken.

In 2023. Nevertheless, the Switzerland at the weekend revealed that Alain Berset’s head of communication at the time had close ties with the CEO of the Ringier media group, to which he transmitted confidential information. However, For his part. In addition, Marc Walder, at the head of the group, recommended that his editors were to comment on the line of the Federal Council on the COVIR.

Alain Berset continued his career as secretary general. Consequently, of the Council of Europe. Nevertheless, Image: keystone

A botched survey by the special prosecutor – Here's how business skillfully suffocated

What is now called the “covid-leaks” caused a national outcry. and led the management commission of the Federal Parliament to open an investigation. But on the legal level, the case will not be followed up. The criminal procedure against the Berset communication manager is now classified.

Two factors explain why justice has not progressed in the clarification of here’s how business skillfully suffocated the facts. First, the extraordinary prosecutor Peter Marti used somewhat rustic methods, showing an annoying tendency to take his assumptions for evidence.

This lack of rigor made him vulnerable. and the courts ended up limiting his action, so that he finally had to give up continuing his investigations.

A bad decision – Here's how business skillfully suffocated

Then. invoking the protection of journalistic sources, the Federal Court decided that the devices and data entered could not be used. He highlighted the role of “guardian” played by the media, and the need they could reveal the unhindered dysfunctions.

A reasoning that seemed to be laudable, but the Federal Court has heavily gave in. He did not understand that. in this specific case, the protection of sources was not used to reveal here’s how business skillfully suffocated abuse, but to hide them. It was not a media here revealing state drifts. but a state manipulating media, with anticipated information in exchange for favorable coverage.

A parliamentary commission that remains on the surface

The Swiss. however, had a legitimate interest to know how, concretely, the Federal Department of the Interior had collaborated with a press group, what this cooperation looked like, and what articles benefited from it. After the decision of the Federal Court in Lausanne. it has become obvious that the Covid-Leaks would never be really elucidated.

Le Ceo de Ringier, Marc Walder.Image: keystone

Deprived of essential information, the management commission could only scratch the surface. She found that the CEO of Ringier had received “confidential classified information” from the DFI communication chief. but the precise circumstances remained obscure.

However, the Commission admitted that Alain Berset was aware of the exchanges between his collaborator and the boss of Ringier. She even issued a judgment. in which she says that it is difficult to understand that:

How the PS covered Alain Berset

But the socialist members of the Commission here’s how business skillfully suffocated opposed an in -depth examination of the role of Alain Berset. Their goal was not to go to the bottom of things. Too many negative elements should not splash their party comrade to the Federal Council. And they succeeded: the commission’s report was so watered down that nobody lingered there for a long time.

What remains of covid-leaks? The story of a public institution that loses any measure in its communication, and a media ready to be instrumentalized. And it is as soon as these practices are revealed, that concealations, justifications, diversions begin.

Yes, there was a direct line between a federal entity and a press group. But, of course, the chef was not aware of the content of the countless telephone and email calls. Justice contributes to blocking any attempt to clarify from the start. Covid-leaks are nothing less here’s how business skillfully suffocated than a systematic camouflage lesson, on several levels.

Translated from German by Joel Espi

The hotel located near the Valais dam had to be evacuated Wednesday after 5,000 cubic meters of rocks detached in the sector. Tourists have also been relocated.

The large landslide that occurred on Saturday near the Big Dixence (VS) dam impacting the region at the tourist level. The nearby hotel must have temporarily closed for security reasons. it is no longer possible to go to the dam.