Dhe Swiss media should be freed from their muzzle. If journalists break banking secrecy, they face imprisonment. When a network of international newspapers uncovered the “Swiss Secrets”, the newspapers of the Swiss TX Group, which belong to the network, wrapped themselves in embarrassed silence. The “Tages-Anzeiger” in Zurich, the “Basler Zeitung”, the “Tribune de Genève” and all other newspapers of the group did not publish the explosive information.
Editors-in-chief of the “Guardian”, “Le Monde” and also the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” protested in editorials against the corresponding law. It was issued after foreign tax offices bought secret bank details.
But Putin’s attack on Ukraine made it clear that in Switzerland, where a third of Russia’s foreign assets are located, the oligarchs’ bank details are better protected than medical confidentiality and the private sphere of citizens. The federal parliament wants to get rid of this nuisance. Many MPs who introduced the law have changed their minds.
The government had previously indicated to the United Nations press freedom rapporteur, Irene Khan, that it might withdraw. He’s got going. A parliamentary commission is calling for a legal reform to “guarantee freedom of the press in matters affecting the Swiss financial center”.
The vote within the commission was not particularly clear with 13 to 11 votes. But Parliament will no doubt agree to the proposal. Renowned lawyers also point to the urgency of changing the law.
