Two Swiss MPs have appealed to the attorney general of the Confederacy, demanding an investigation into “gifts offered to the US president” Donald Trump by the heads of Swiss businesses in early November, according to the French News Agency (AFP).
In early November, a delegation of Swiss businessmen traveled to Washington to meet with the US president in hopes of getting his attention on the impact of the 39% imposed on Swiss goods since early August.
A Rolex-brand table watch and a personalized gold bar that dominated the president’s White House office had captured the attention of the Swiss and U.S. media in the following days.
Criticism surrounding what the US press called “gold bar diplomacy” erupted when, 10 days late,r Bern and Washington announced a joint statement of intent aimed at reducing to 15 percent the tariffs imposed on Swiss products.
“In this case of great national and international importance, we believe that these facts must be clarified by justice,” wrote Swiss Greens (Vert.e.s suisses) MPs Greta Giesin and Raphael Mahheim in a complaint filed before the Confederation’s attorney general, a copy of which was obtained by AFP.
“At stake are the credibility of our institutions, respect for the rule of law and Switzerland’s reputation at the international level,” they added in the letter dated November 26.
The value of these items has not been made known, and “public information on the final destination of the gifts offered to the US president is incomplete,” these deputies believe, who are asking the prosecutor to investigate whether this is an “unjustified advantage under Swiss criminal law.”
In particular, they invoke “article 322” of the penal code, which concerns “corruption of foreign public officials”. The announcement of a draft agreement on tariff relief had been welcomed by employers’ associations, but had also provoked disapproval, notably from the Swiss Greens, who denounced this private visit by top business executives, deeming it “democratically questionable.”
Among the businessmen pictured in a photo from this meeting were the general manager of Rolex, Jean Frédéric Dufour, as well as that of the gold foundry and trading company MKS PAMP, Marwan Sakarchy.
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