The owner of the unfortunate bar in Crans-Montana, Jacques Moretti, was convicted in Switzerland in 2016.Image: keystone
Deficiencies in the investigation into the fire disaster in Crans-Montana, a conviction of the bar operator in 2016 and the Valais public prosecutor’s office at its capacity limit: this can be found in the Sunday newspapers.
January 18, 2026, 08:3201/18/2026, 09:04
New criticism of the Valais justice system in the Crans-Montana case
According to the “NZZ am Sonntag”, files from the criminal investigation into the Crans-Montana VS fire have revealed major deficiencies in the investigation. Among other things, the bar operators’ smartphones were only confiscated eight days after the disaster, as the newspaper wrote based on investigation files. The public prosecutor’s office also treated the members of the Valais authorities with kid gloves, the newspaper said. The community’s security chief was allowed to personally deliver documents about the bar to the public prosecutor’s office two days after the fire – even though he had a conflict of interest. According to the newspaper, the files also confirm that the public prosecutor’s office apparently forgot about the victims’ autopsy. According to the “NZZ am Sonntag”, the documents further suggest that the bar operator’s apartment was not searched. The public prosecutor’s office and the bar operators’ lawyers did not comment.
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Jacques Moretti has also already been convicted in Switzerland
According to information from “NZZ am Sonntag”, the operator of the bar “Le Constellation” in Crans-Montana VS, Jacques Moretti, was convicted in Switzerland in 2016. He had employed black workers in Crans-Montana, as the newspaper wrote. This calls into question whether he should have received a permit for the business at all. According to Valais law, people with a criminal record are not allowed to operate a bar under certain circumstances. From other documents, the newspaper questioned the canton’s responsibility. In 2015, the canton requested plans for the entire bar, but did not receive them from the bar operator. The renovation was not prevented. The cantonal fire department assumed that construction had not started, Marie Claude Noth-Ecoeur, head of the Valais security department, told the newspaper. According to the Valais building law, the plans would have had to be submitted. The bar operators did not comment, as the newspaper wrote.
Pilloud called for support – but only marginally
According to Tamedia, the Valais Attorney General Beatrice Pilloud demanded additional resources from the authorities five days after the fire disaster in Crans-Montana. She requested the hiring of a full-time court clerk “to investigate the events of January 1, 2026,” as “Le Matin Dimanche” and the “SonntagsZeitung” wrote. The State Council approved the application. Given the extent of the case, the support requested is marginal, wrote Tamedia. Because Pilloud had already sent out “a cry for help” in the spring of 2025. The district prosecutors are overloaded and “the system is in danger,” the newspaper quoted from the 2024 annual report of the Valais public prosecutor’s office.
Last fire safety inspection of Le Constellation was “positive” according to the protocol
According to the “NZZ am Sonntag”, the then head of security at Crans-Montana VS rated the inspection of the bar “Le Constellation” in 2019 as “positive”. The inspector found the escape routes and the width of the stairs to be OK, as the newspaper wrote with reference to the minutes of the bar’s last fire safety inspection. He objected to the wood paneling of the bar. According to the newspaper, the highly flammable foam used to cover the ceiling is not mentioned in the minutes. The inspector, however, complained that the fire extinguishers were neither marked nor permanently installed. The lighting of the signs that marked the escape routes was also not tested. If these deficiencies were corrected within three months, the restaurant could continue to operate, the newspaper quoted from the minutes.
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Parents of Crans Montana victims form association
After the tragedy in Crans-Montana VS, parents of severely burned victims founded the Swisshearts association, according to “Le Matin Dimanche”. This is intended to help families cope with the high hospital costs of their relatives abroad, as the newspaper wrote. Travel costs and longer stays with relatives caused costs amounting to several thousand or even tens of thousands of francs. Swisshearts was founded by four affected parents. The association wants to supplement existing offers of help. It is aimed at families residing in Switzerland, primarily families of adult victims who, according to the newspaper, are less well protected by the legal framework.
Ex-Trump advisor warns Federal Council against too much contact with US President
US President Donald Trump’s former security advisor, John Bolton, advised the Federal Council to exercise restraint at a meeting with Trump at the World Economic Forum in Davos, GR. “Avoid contact with Trump if possible,” he said in an interview with “SonntagsBlick”. Federal President Guy Parmelin should above all listen to the US President. Trump thinks it’s great when he speaks and others listen. “If you have this kind of relationship with him, you are more likely to demand something later,” said Bolton. He pointed to former Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who did well with this strategy.
WEF boss wants tiny houses in Davos
According to the director of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos GR, Alois Zwinggi, stackable tiny houses could serve as temporary living space. “We are in discussion with the authorities about this,” said Zwinggi in an interview with the “SonntagsZeitung”. It is unacceptable for families to be driven out of town during a school week. The WEF can only appeal to the landlords. The organizers are also concerned about the high prices of the para-hotel industry. The WEF is bringing 20 percent fewer staff to Davos this year, but is paying 20 percent more for accommodation. “I’m starting to get tired of the other accommodations,” he said. There, prices are driven up by events that have nothing to do with the WEF.
SRF reprimanded by ombudsman for Berlin reporting
According to “SonntagsBlick”, the SRG ombudsman approved an SVP complaint against a contribution in the SRF “Tagesschau” about protests at a meeting of the AfD youth. The complaint came from National Councilor Thomas Matter (SVP/ZH) and was directed against a contribution by SRF correspondent Alexandra Gubser, as the newspaper wrote. Gubser described the protests as “for the most part colorful and peaceful”. In fact, 50 police officers were injured, wrote “SonntagsBlick”. In a statement to the ombudsman’s office, SRF described the sentence “a defensive democracy shows its presence” as “not optimally placed”. However, the true extent of the riots only became known after the program was broadcast. Despite the complaint, Matter wanted to take the complaint to the Independent Complaints Authority for Radio and Television (UBI).
According to the boss, Galaxus advertising about AfD is more controversial in Switzerland than in Germany
Galaxus boss Florian Teuteberg expressed surprise at the reaction in Switzerland to the controversial AfD commercial in an interview with the “SonntagsZeitung”. The reactions from Swiss customers were stronger than those from Germany, as the head of the online retailer told the newspaper. “It was said that we should stay out of such issues and be more apolitical.” In Germany, Galaxus expected that the advertising clip that blasted the AfD politician Alice Weidel would cause waves. The commercial had not previously passed Teutenberg’s desk. “I let the people in marketing do it,” he said. (sda/con)