Was naturalization illegal?
Maudet turns Lebanese into Swiss in a hurry
Within a few months, a Lebanese banker in Geneva received a Swiss passport – even though he didn’t meet the requirements. Mail histories show that the then government councilor Pierre Maudet had his fingers in the pie.
Published: 42 minutes ago
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Pierre Maudet was once a member of the Geneva State Council and had to resign because of a corruption scandal. The Federal Supreme Court confirmed the conviction for taking advantage in 2022.
New allegations against Pierre Maudet (44): After the former Geneva government councilor was finally convicted of taking advantage at the end of last year, another dubious case has now come to light.
As the “Tages-Anzeiger” reports, Maudet is said to have helped a Lebanese banker to get a Swiss passport – at express train speed and against the objections of his employees. There is a suspicion that Maudet, who was nominated as a candidate for the FDP in 2017, disregarded the applicable law.
Maudet is currently running again for the Geneva State Council. The elections take place in April.
Suddenly it was very easy
According to the media report, the banker from Lebanon had worked in Geneva for several years, then went abroad and finally returned to Canton Schwyz in 2015. He knew Maudet and went on a business trip to Dubai with him that same year to promote Geneva as a business location.
Actually, in the canton of Geneva, someone can only be naturalized if they have lived in the canton for two years – including the last twelve months before submitting the application for naturalization. The banker did not meet this requirement.
Nevertheless, he got the passport. According to research by the “Tages-Anzeiger”, Maudet personally campaigned for this. In September 2015, an employee of Maudet wrote by email that the man was not eligible to apply for naturalization. A “colleague in the department explained a number of techniques to him on the phone with which this period of 12 months can be shortened,” the newspaper quoted from an e-mail correspondence.
“You always have such good news for me”
Specifically, another employee advised the banker to inform the migration office retrospectively about the branch in Geneva. He should justify the fact that his wife and children still live in Schwyz with the school situation. This is said to have given the Lebanese a red passport within half a year.
The man was overwhelmed by the Geneva people’s willingness to help: “You always have such good news for me!! (That’s exactly why I’m turning to you!) », he is said to have written to Maudet’s employee. And he replied: “You don’t have to worry about anything anymore. They never bother you and if you have any concerns don’t hesitate to get in touch.”
Maudet is silent
At the request of the “Tages-Anzeiger”, Maudet did not comment on the case. He refers to the official secrecy that would apply to naturalization dossiers. The Lebanese banker’s lawyer states that his client has no knowledge of “direct or indirect support measures by Mr. Maudet in connection with his Swiss naturalization” and has never given him a corresponding order or promised or granted any consideration. (lha)