The famous “All I want for Christmas is you” by Mariah Carey will not resonate on the café terraces of the City of Geneva. No more than the songs of Tino Rossi. The petition which requested authorization to broadcast music on the terraces during the month of December as well as “the establishment of additional street entertainment” during the holidays came to nothing.
Launched at the end of October by MCG Skender Salihi, the text collected 540 signatures. “I presented it to the Petitions Committee and since then, we have been waiting for a position from the Administrative Council. The latter is reluctant to make a decision and seeks excuses by emphasizing respect for the administrative process, even though it is a question of common sense!” says the indignant man who is also a candidate for mayor.
Response from the magistrate responsible for this case, Marie Barbey-Chpuis: “The petition is in the hands of the Municipality. There is a democratic process to respect. The procedure is not special for candidates for the Administrative Council!” Affirming that more than half of the signatories do not live in the City of Geneva, she adds: “The added value of this measure still seems to be demonstrated. And above all risks rekindling tensions with local residents.” And to conclude: “We will take stock of the Lausanne experience (editor’s note: music was authorized from November 20 to December 31) and we will see if this demand persists in Geneva in 2025.”
For its part, the Professional Group of Restaurateurs and Hoteliers indicates that it supported the approach which “goes in the direction of a lively Geneva and aims to improve the situation for those involved in our sector”. He regrets that “the municipal authorities have not even looked into the question”. Laurent Terlinchamp, president of the Société des Cafetiers, Restaurateurs et Hôteliers de Genève, believes that “the petition will have had the merit of opening the debate” and is delighted that discussions and working meetings will be held from the year next, on the more general question of entertainment in the City of Geneva.
