His department is preparing several top meetings.
April 30, 2026, 07:52April 30, 2026, 07:52
The discord between Italy and Switzerland continues. Since the Crans-Montana fire disaster on January 1st last, Italian politicians and the media have sharply criticized the Swiss authorities.
Concerned about tensions with Rome: Federal President Guy Parmelin.Image: keystone
Six Italian nationals died in the fire in the bar and eleven were injured. The fact that hospital bills from the canton of Valais recently arrived in Italy, with copies sent to relatives, is causing new discontent.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni declared herself “shocked” on
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni says she is “shocked”.Image: keystone
Switzerland treats Crans-Montana “like a skiing accident”
The Italian ambassador in Bern told the “Tages-Anzeiger”: It was “scandalous” to demand that the Italian state reimburse the costs of a tragedy that was caused by the irresponsibility of the operators and the authorities.
Ambassador Gian Lorenzo Cornado accuses the Swiss authorities of treating the Crans-Montana tragedy “like a skiing accident”. «This is the most outrageous thing for us. In Italy we save lives for free. I wish Switzerland would do the same.”
Gian Lorenzo Cornado is the Italian ambassador in Bern.Image: keystone
Previously, communication from the responsible authorities and the actions of the Valais public prosecutor’s office had triggered strong reactions in the southern neighboring country. Tenor: Switzerland is approaching the process of coming to terms with and dealing with the tragedy in an overly bureaucratic and narrow-minded manner.
Federal President Guy Parmelin (SVP) is concerned about the ongoing disruption in the relationship between Switzerland and Italy. He wants to achieve improvement quickly. That’s why his department has been working on diplomatic initiatives in recent days: Parmelin is scheduled to meet first Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and then Italian President Sergio Mattarella within just three days.
Italian President Sergio Mattarella.Image: keystone
The plan looks like this: The summit of the European Political Community will take place in Armenia next Monday. This group was created in 2022 at the initiative of French President Emmanuel Macron. 47 countries from Europe and the Middle East are part of the community – including Switzerland. Parmelin travels to Armenia on Sunday.
A meeting between Giorgia Meloni and Guy Parmelin is planned on the sidelines of the summit in Yerevan. The irritations in the aftermath of the fire disaster in Crans-Montana should be discussed.
The following Wednesday, the new Swiss Guards will be sworn in in the Vatican. Guy Parmelin is flying to Rome on Tuesday for this celebratory occasion. There is supposed to be a conversation with Sergio Mattarella there. Parmelin had already met the President in February on the sidelines of the Olympic Games in Milan. The Swiss delegation was impressed by the level-headedness of the Italian head of state.
Parmelin will soon be traveling to Italy.Image: keystone
The two meetings in quick succession are intended to clear up any possible misunderstandings. In the department of Parmelin it can be heard: The Federal President has a certain understanding of the reaction of the Italians to the hospital bills that were sent out. Parmelin is pushing within the Federal Council for the bills to be withheld.
Parmelin doesn’t want any more hospital bills sent out
The SVP magistrate is of the opinion that the payment method can be discussed at the round table. This group is intended to bring together the victims of the fire and their relatives with insurance companies, potentially liable organizations and people, as well as the responsible authorities. The Federal Council appointed the former Neuchâtel State Councilor Laurent Kurth to head the round table. The aim is to achieve out-of-court settlements so that lengthy legal proceedings are avoided.
Legally, the actions of the hospital in Sion, which sent invoices to Italy, were correct. The EU and EFTA states have concluded an agreement that is intended to prevent anyone from being left without coverage in the event of a health emergency.
“The regulations for international benefit assistance also apply to those affected by the fire disaster in Crans-Montana,” writes Harald Sohns, spokesman for the Federal Social Insurance Office.
Prime Minister Meloni is now making it clear: Italy is not thinking about paying hospital bills that arrived from Switzerland in connection with Crans-Montana. The ambassador recalled that Swiss victims were treated in a hospital in Milan. No invoices would be issued for this.
Urs Wiedmer, Parmelins media spokesman, said on Wednesday evening: “It is very clear that the people injured in Crans-Montana and their families, regardless of where they live, do not have to pay anything for the medical care they receive in Switzerland. The costs that are not covered by insurance are borne by Victim Support.” The details of the cost assumptions are to be clarified at the round table in Crans-Montana. (aargauerzeitung.ch)