Monday, January 26, 2026-Italy has formally protested to Switzerland after a Swiss court released on bail the co-owner of a bar where a New Year’s Day fire killed 40 people and injured more than 100, including several Italians.
Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called the bail decision “an affront to the memory of the victims and an insult to their families,” and the Italian government recalled its ambassador to Switzerland for consultations to express strong outrage over the move.
The blaze occurred at Le Constellation, a bar in the Swiss ski resort of Crans-Montana, and is now the subject of a criminal investigation into negligent homicide and other charges against owners Jacques and Jessica Moretti.
Jacques Moretti had been in custody since early January but was released after paying 200,000 Swiss francs bail and ordered to report to police daily. Italian officials argued that releasing him despite the severity of the allegations, the risk of flight, and the potential to compromise evidence was deeply insensitive and undermined trust in justice.
The incident has heightened diplomatic tensions between Rome and Bern. Italy’s government statement said the nation is “clamouring for truth and justice” and has called for respectful measures that reflect the suffering of the victims’ families.
Italian leaders have also pushed for closer cooperation, including a proposed joint investigative team with Swiss authorities to ensure transparency in the investigation. Meanwhile, Switzerland emphasizes its judicial independence even as it expresses sympathy for the victims.
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