Alain Berset

In Tbilisi, Berset announced a working group to amend the foreign agents law. Opposition parties and NGOs considered the initiative irresponsible and liable to legitimise the government and repression following a disputed election.

State of the evidence

Visit and public reactions documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Direct responsibility as Secretary General of the Council of Europe

Berset's head of communications was suspected of passing confidential information about COVID measures to Ringier. Parliamentary committees did not establish that Berset knew about the leaks but considered his lack of response difficult to understand.

State of the evidence

Criminal investigation and report by parliamentary oversight committees

Legal status — source text

No evidence that Berset knew the precise content of the leaks; criticism of his oversight

Attribution

Institutional responsibility; personal knowledge not established

Towards the end of Berset's tenure, premiums rose by 6.6 per cent and then 8.7 per cent. Insurers and political parties accused him of failing to make available savings and underestimating the rebound in costs.

State of the evidence

Official premium increases and industry criticism documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Shared political responsibility

A planned fighter aircraft flight for Berset was intended to remain discreet. Following questions about cost, safety and the privilege granted to a minister, he abandoned the plan.

State of the evidence

Flight plan and cancellation documented

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

Attribution

Direct involvement, but the plan was never carried out

Berset and the Federal Office of Public Health stated during the certificate campaign that vaccinated people were no longer contagious. The statement became inaccurate in light of breakthrough infections and was denounced as misleading.

State of the evidence

Statements assessed against available scientific knowledge

Legal status — source text

No judicial proceedings

After an attempted blackmail by a former partner, media outlets accused Berset of using staff, an official car and federal police resources for a private matter.

State of the evidence

Blackmail attempt, conviction of the perpetrator and parliamentary inquiry documented

Legal status — source text

Berset cleared of preferential treatment and misuse of resources by parliamentary committees

Attribution

Personal allegations not upheld

While piloting a light aircraft, Berset entered prohibited French airspace and was required to land following intervention by air policing authorities. His initial silence amplified the controversy.

State of the evidence

Aviation incident documented

Legal status — source text

No proceedings initiated by France

Attribution

Direct involvement as pilot; intent not established

At the start of COVID, the authorities claimed that masks might be useless or even harmful, against a backdrop of shortages. Berset subsequently acknowledged that he had not sufficiently questioned scientific advice.

State of the evidence

Public statements and self-criticism documented

Legal status — source text

No personal judicial proceedings

Extending the certificate to certain venues was denounced as creating a two-tier society and indirectly making vaccination compulsory. Berset denied coercion, pointing to testing as an alternative.

State of the evidence

Government measures and opposition documented

Legal status — source text

Measures approved in referendums; no personal wrongdoing

Attribution

Direct responsibility as Health Minister; collective decision