The affair of illegal constructions in Verbier (VS), but also the relations between Switzerland and the EU which come back before the Federal Council and a warning from health insurers make the headlines of the Sunday press. Here is the main information, not confirmed to Keystone-ATS:
Illegal constructions in Verbier
The Valais public prosecutor has completed its criminal investigation into illegal constructions in Verbier (VS), reports Sunday Morningwho obtained the indictment. Four former local elected officials and the municipal secretary will have to answer for unfair management of public interests and abuse of authority. The issuance of illicit building permits was “an integral part of a politico-economic strategy tending to the development of high-end tourism and the domiciliation of large fortunes”, denounces prosecutor Cindy Kämpf in the indictment of 44 pages. The affair was revealed in 2015. Of the 248 illegal constructions, the public prosecutor retained 23 to support its accusations.
Contribution to the EU
The Federal Council is due to debate next Wednesday the amount of the future contribution to Swiss cohesion in the European Union (EU), reports the NZZ on Sunday. The current contribution of 130 million francs per year is expected to increase significantly, the newspaper says, noting that Norway’s payment of 450 million francs is used as a comparison. According to the NZZ on Sundaythe EU would also push for the Swiss rail network to be open to foreign providers, which is causing resistance in the sector.
Warning from SantéSuisse
The umbrella organization of health insurers SantéSuisse warns in the Sunday newspaper against the exponential growth of companies specializing in care for relatives, since they can be reimbursed for their work by basic insurance. A lucrative market has been established for four years, denounces SantéSuisse. The costs borne by insurers are expected to exceed 100 million francs in 2025, adds the organization, warning that this will have a direct impact on health insurance premiums. But, according to the Sunday newspaperthe two largest health insurers in Switzerland, CSS and Helsana, are also active in this market through subsidiaries. The two health funds deny any conflict of interest, arguing that innovative solutions are necessary in the field of care.
Gaps in controls
A report from the Federal Department of Defense, Civil Protection and Sports (DDPS) highlights gaps in controls to verify whether civilian demonstrations supported by the army or civil protection correctly donate their share of profits , indicates the Sunday View. The document shows that the guidelines are often not followed. Soldiers and members of the civil protection perform more than 50,000 days of service per year in support of ski races or other major events, such as the Federal Fight Festival, part of which could not take place without this support. Defense Minister Viola Amherd has ordered the strengthening of control mechanisms, adds the Sunday View.
Accusation de «fake news»
National councilor Christian Imark (UDC/SO) accuses in Sunday Morning and the Sunday newspaper the Minister of the Economy Guy Parmelin, who is from the same party, of “fake news” on the Solothurn steelworks Stahl Gerlafingen, in great difficulty. The federal councilor declared on German-speaking television that more than 20 subsidized steelworks located within a 150 km radius of Switzerland could cover Swiss demand. “There are only three,” replied Mr. Imark in the newspapers, referring to an index from the Society of Engineers and Architects (SIA). “If [M.] Parmelin continues, he will have a pitiful result during the election to the presidency of the Confederation,” threatens the Solothurn elected official, speaking of the presidency that the Vaudois must resume in 2026. The Federal Council refused to grant financial aid to the company considered non-systemic.
Drug trafficking and rape
Rape is punished less harshly than drug trafficking in Switzerland, while positions in Swiss public ministries are mainly occupied by women, notes the Sunday newspaper. In 2023, 75 rapists were convicted: 41 of them received prison sentences, the others received suspended or partially suspended sentences with an average duration of 4.5 years and will probably not be served in their entirety due to sentence reductions. Cocaine trafficking is punishable by five years in prison for three kilograms. According to criminal law professor and state advisor Daniel Jositsch (PS/ZH), female lawyers judge rape according to the same criteria as their male colleagues, but they are often more understanding towards the perpetrators.
End of facial analysis
The Swiss branch of Spar supermarkets has decided to stop its project of facial analysis of customers in its stores, writes the NZZ on Sunday. The brand planned to install sensors in its 147 Swiss sites to determine the age and gender of customers. Based on this data, Spar wanted to display personalized advertising on store screens. The system has been installed in several subsidiaries, but, according to the company, it is gradually being dismantled. “The reactions of our customers encouraged us to abandon personalized advertising,” explains the group in the newspaper. The analysis of schematic characteristics such as age and gender constitutes an infringement of the fundamental rights of customers, reacts in the newspaper Monika Simmler, professor of criminal law at the University of St. Gallen.
Crisis in the automobile industry
The crisis in the German automobile industry, particularly Volkswagen, is having repercussions in Switzerland, worry Sunday View and the Sunday newspaper. Exports of Swiss subcontractors fell by 7.8% during the first nine months and even by 14.8% in the third quarter alone, indicates in the newspapers Martin Hirzel, president of Swissmem, the association of Swiss machinery industry. Many of them have decreed a hiring freeze. Some have made layoffs or called for partial unemployment. The Swiss company Feintool, for example, will relocate part of its production to the Czech Republic. The Komax company will close sites in Rotkreuz (ZG) and Cham (ZG) and Georg Fischer plans to sell its automotive division.
