Affair about the Corona leaks: Alain Berset’s ex-confidante is fighting on three fronts

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When the audit committee presented the results of its investigation into the so-called Corona leaks in Bern on Friday, two were conspicuous by their absence: Health Minister Alain Berset (51) and his former media director Peter Lauener (54).

Even if the splendor of his office is tarnished by the GPK report, the magistrate can sit back and enjoy his last weeks as federal president.

As expected, parliamentarians found no ‘smoking gun’, that is, no evidence that the department head was behind the indiscretions leaked to the media during the pandemic – including those at Ringier.

However, the gauntlet is not yet over for the former Berset spokesperson, on three legal fronts: in Bern, Zurich and Bellinzona TI.

There are several theories circulating

After a year and a half, the judgment of the coercive measures court in Bern is still pending, which must decide whether Lauener’s sealed private emails can be reviewed by a special investigator. Peter Marti, 72, originally held the position before resigning in June. His successor is Johannes Rinnerthaler (47), a mysterious federal prosecutor of State Security. He is regarded as someone with utmost integrity and hard work. So far, his public appearances include being a dogged accuser in the intelligence community.

A complaint is pending at the Federal Criminal Court in Bellinzona. This is aimed at the decision by prosecutor Stephan Zimmerli this summer to drop the criminal case against Peter Marti. Lauener and other parties reported at the time about the special investigator, who had the ex-media spokesperson detained for several days in May 2022.

Finally, special investigator Daniel Nussbaumer (45) is responsible for the email correspondence between Lauener and Ringier CEO Marc Walder (58), which was published in CH Media publications in January 2023.

Various theories are circulating about a political plot by the right or intrigues within the federal government against Berset, which Nussbaumer must now investigate. Viewed this way, Lauener would be an unfortunate pawn victim. He currently works as an independent communications and strategy consultant. He has experience in this field.

Source:Blick