Vernier (GE) – Burning of the Tattes: the executive response does not convince

The majority of the Geneva Grand Council had asked via a motion to the Council of State to suspend the steps aimed at removing the victims of the fire from the Tattes home. However, the executive’s response did not satisfy the majority of deputies: the copy was returned to the sender on Friday.

The motion sent to the State Council in October 2019 also asked that the canton support requests for regularization from victims to stay in Switzerland during the procedure. A criminal investigation is indeed underway following this fire in November 2014 which left one person dead and around 40 injured, including eleven serious.

In its response, the Council of State noted that this competence belongs to the State Secretariat for Migration (SEM). The left as well as the PDC believes that the executive could do more so that the victims receive fair treatment. “It is mainly forced workers who have been affected in their health,” noted the deputy of Ensemble Pierre Gauche left.

A deceased applicant

The elected PDC Bertrand Buchs strongly supported the referral to the Council of State. As long as the responsibilities of the State for this fire are not clearly established, the victims must be able to stay in Switzerland, he asserted. The UDC and the MCG for their part noted that these asylum seekers had no reason to obtain special treatment: the laws must be respected, asserted the elected UDC Stéphane Florey. The motion was returned by 45 votes to 38 to the Council of State.

A 29-year-old Eritrean asylum seeker died from poisoning during the fire. The forensic expertise has questioned the State of Geneva due to the failures of the fire-fighting system. The state contested its findings. Some victims have received a residence permit for medical reasons and others have been granted temporary admission. Others left Switzerland following a removal order.

(ATS / NXP)

Posted: Jun 26, 2020, 4:31 p.m.–