Federal Councilor Guy Parmelin at the memorial service for the victims in Crans-Montana. Relatives make accusations that he is not present enough.Image: keystone
In contrast to Italy and France, the Swiss Federal Council shows little solidarity, report victims’ families. The criticism of the Valais public prosecutor’s office does not go away either.
02/01/2026, 08:3602/01/2026, 08:51
Criticism of Switzerland’s handling of the Crans-Montana fire shows no sign of abating. Hugues Blatti, whose son Luka (18) is in the intensive care unit with severe burns, makes serious accusations against the Federal Council against RTS.
He had contact with the Italian government and even had a personal conversation with French President Emmanuel Macron:
“But the Swiss side disappointed us – and I think I speak for many families. There was no contact with the Swiss Confederation.”
Hugues Blatti
Blatti’s criticism is specifically aimed at Federal President Guy Parmelin (SVP), who received some of those affected during his visit to Crans-Montana. But it stayed that way. Until now.
Again Sunday view According to reports, Parmelin has now spoken to Blatti on the phone in response to public pressure.
Only two deaths were autopsied
It is not the only point on which relatives and survivors of the injured and dead criticize official Switzerland.
The lawyer for the family of Chiara Costanzo, who died in the disaster Le Constallation died, criticized in an interview with Watson that the fire victims were not autopsied.
In fact, two of the 40 dead have been autopsied so far. The reports about this NZZ on Sunday. This is problematic because the public prosecutor cannot conclusively prove what caused them to die.
Even more problematic: the public prosecutor’s office leaves the decision as to whether the fire victims, who have now been buried, should be exhumed, to the surviving relatives.
“The public prosecutor’s office has informed us that it will only order exhumations and autopsies if the victims’ families explicitly request it.”
Romain Jordan, victim advocate
It is reprehensible to place this enormous burden on grieving families, says Jordan, who represents several victim families. In his eyes, the public prosecutor’s office is acting this way because otherwise it would have to admit its failure in front of the eyes of the world.
Italy is outraged
In the meantime, Italy has autopsied five of the six dead people with Italian citizenship – more than Switzerland.
The investigations by the Valais public prosecutor’s office have met with sharp criticism abroad, particularly in Italy. In protest at what she sees as inadequate investigative work, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has recalled the Italian ambassador from Bern.
Switzerland has now agreed to Italy’s request for legal assistance; The Italian public prosecutor’s office is allowed to investigate the Crans-Montana case.
The public prosecutors from Valais and Rome are scheduled to meet on February 19th. Italy is making further diplomatic steps dependent on the results of this meeting.
(here)
Video: watson/amber vetter