The former Geneva State Councilor Pierre Maudet was sentenced to a conditional fine of 300 daily rates of 400 francs in connection with a trip to Abu Dhabi in 2015 for accepting benefits. The police court ruled last February that the politician had considered, accepted and accepted the risk of being influenced in the performance of his office by accepting the invitation.
The stay in a luxury palace had been arranged by two businessmen who were friends with Maudet in order, according to the first instance judgment, to secure the goodwill of the State Council. The Emirati royal family paid the bill of tens of thousands of francs.
The FDP excluded Maudet from the party in the summer of 2020. Shortly afterwards, the department was withdrawn from the former Federal Council candidate. He was only allowed to attend government meetings. In November he finally announced his resignation, but ran for a replacement election in March 2021 – and was defeated.