The former Geneva government 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 an advantage. The police court ruled in February 2021 that the politician had considered, accepted and accepted the risk of being influenced in the exercise of his office by accepting the invitation.
The stay in a luxury palace had been arranged by two businessmen who were friends of Maudet’s in order, according to the court of first instance, to secure the goodwill of the government council.
The FDP excluded Maudet from the party in the summer of 2020. Shortly thereafter, the department was withdrawn from the former Federal Council candidate. He was only allowed to attend government meetings. He finally announced his resignation in November, but ran for a by-election in March 2021 – and lost.