In the wake of the devastating fire at a bar in Crans-Montana, many Swiss citizens are asking themselves if their political system is fit for purpose.
Switzerland, often praised for its efficiency, has a very devolved system of government, in which villages and towns are run by local officials elected from and by the community.
It is a system the Swiss cherish because they believe it ensures accountability.
However, there are inherent weaknesses: hypothetically, the official approving a bar license or passing a fire-safety check is the friend, neighbor, or maybe even cousin of the bar owner.
When the news of the fire emerged on New Year's Eve, first there was shock. Such devastating fires are not supposed to happen in Switzerland.
Then there was grief - 40 young people lost their lives, 116 were injured, many of them very seriously. Questions followed - what caused such a catastrophe?
This week, anger boiled over when Crans-Montana's Mayor, Nicolas Feraud, revealed that the Le Constellation bar had not been inspected since 2019.
Crans-Montana is in the Swiss canton of Valais, where fire-safety inspections are the responsibility of Mayor Feraud and his colleagues, expected to occur every 12 months.
Not only had the checks not taken place, Feraud said he had only become aware of this after the fire. Of the 128 bars and restaurants in Crans-Montana, only 40 had been inspected in 2025.
When questioned on the lack of inspections, Feraud could not provide a satisfactory answer, suggesting there were too few inspectors for the amount of properties needing checks.
This sentiment echoed with the mayor of neighboring Zermatt, which also lacks the necessary resources, a fact that does not sit well with the Swiss who are aware of the wealth in these tourist resorts.
Journalists at the press conference grilled Feraud on his relationship with the bar owners, suggesting the potential for nepotism and corruption.
Feraud firmly denied any wrongdoing.
The mother of two survivors expressed the need for complete and transparent answers, as her sons were left traumatized after escaping the fire.
Questions from families and journalists underscore the flaws in Switzerland's local governance system.
Elected officials in such towns juggle numerous responsibilities, often working part-time while managing jobs outside of politics.
As Swiss citizens demand answers, the reputational damage to the country is immense. Public confidence in local governance is shaken, leading to discussions regarding reforming fire safety inspections and accountability measures.
The owner of the bar is now in custody, but the scrutiny will extend to local governance, with calls for a thorough investigation into how the system allowed such failures to occur.
With a rich tradition of safety and accountability, many Swiss question how their cherished system went so wrong.
