Swiss court judges drop Chaix for another term

The Federal Supreme Court’s judges will not recommend President François Chaix for re-election, SRF reported Tuesday. The court confirmed the decision, which comes after months of controversy over its handling of a relationship between two of its members.

Chaix, a Liberal Party member and judge for 15 years, was elected court president two years ago with a strong result. The court’s assembly of 40 judges is responsible for recommending candidates to parliament.

The controversy began after reports in April that Conservative People’s Party judge Beatrice Van de Graaf and independent judge Yves Donzallaz were in a relationship. The Federal Supreme Court Act prohibits a “permanent domestic partnership” between two court members. Donzallaz has publicly denied that their relationship met this definition. Both judges are seeking re-election.

The court commissioned an external review of the relationship, but sent the report only to parliament and did not publish it. The court’s election committee was also criticised after postponing the judges’ election from the autumn session to the winter. The court said it would recommend Conservative People’s Party judge Thomas Müller for president. Parliament is due to decide on the presidency in December.