Published
Despite his score of 48/48 on the knowledge test, a Paudézien was refused Swiss nationality because he had contracted debts in order to get out of a bad patch.
The naturalization procedure for this resident of Paudex (VD), holder of a C permit and having obtained a score of 48/48 on his knowledge test on Switzerland and the canton, should have been only a formality. But, because of debts contracted while he was in a bad patch in connection with the company he had just set up, he still has not obtained his Swiss passport, indicates “24 hours”. Indeed, under federal law, there are nine conditions precedent to filing a claim, and among these are: “Not having recent lawsuits and acts of default of property.”
Because of this criterion of financial health, the Population Service of the canton of Vaud (SPOP) had advised the Municipality of Paudex to refuse him nationality. The Cantonal Court was seized and its Administrative and Public Law Court (CDAP) considered that the man deserved to become Swiss: the debts were old and the resident made every effort to repay them quickly despite his modest income, so that his slate is being wiped clean. The CDAP thus notes that “its financial situation now meets all the conditions laid down by federal law and case law”. And to specify that “the weakness of a criterion can be balanced by other strong points”.
