Invited Tuesday of the Morning of the RTS, the Geneva State Councilor in charge of the economy and employment Fabienne Fischer admitted not to be aware of the merger of Firmenich with DSM. However, two other ministers had themselves been warned of the operation, RTS learned.
In Geneva, Fabienne Fischer experiences her first crisis within the Department of Economy and Employment. On the airwaves of RTS Tuesday morning, the environmentalist admitted not being aware of the merger of one of the jewels of the Geneva economic fabric, Firmenich, with the Dutch DSM. This ignorance has sparked a shower of criticism from the right. The Geneva Citizens Movement (MCG) called on her to resign.
Ministers informed
Especially since, at the same time, two Geneva State Councilors were warned before the merger, announced Tuesday morning, learned the RTS.
The two city councilors in question are Nathalie Fontanet and Serge Dal Busco. The first was informed several weeks ago, according to information obtained by the RTS. The Minister of Finance met the leaders of Firmenich, who explained the operation to her from a tax perspective. Serge Dal Busco was personally notified on Monday evening, the day before the merger, in his capacity as president of the government college.
>> The details about the operation: Firmenich, Geneva giant of aromas and perfumes, merges with DSM
Telephone cut off
Fabienne Fischer, yet in charge of the economy and employment, did not have this privilege. “My phone was off while I was on La Matinale on your (RTS, editor’s note) waves”, defends the ecologist. “And, therefore, I saw that I was contacted during the interview. And for the rest, I refer you to Firmenich, ask him the question”, she says.
Taking the magistrate’s mobile phone offline cut her off from any real-time information. But this does not explain everything. Fabienne Fischer’s two colleagues were notified before the announcement of the merger, at least one day before.
>> The interview in question:
Maintain jobs
During his press conference on Tuesday morning, Firmenich indicated that he had been in contact with the Geneva authorities very early in the process. A reference to the exchanges with the great silversmith Nathalie Fontanet. Since employment was not immediately in danger in the operation, the Geneva company was able to consider that it was not required to inform the elected green representative. Questioned in writing on this particular aspect, the company did not respond to our requests.
For Fabienne Fischer, however, the issue is elsewhere. She highlights her desire to maintain the presence and importance of the company at the end of the lake. “My objective is to work, to make sure that the jobs remain in Geneva”, underlines the magistrate. “It’s to ensure that the company maintains its dynamism and remains a Geneva flagship of excellence in the field of perfumery. That’s the only thing that matters to me.”
Secret fiscal
As to why the two colleagues of Fabienne Fischer did not take care to inform her of this future transaction, the answer lies on the side of tax secrecy.
Nathalie Fontanet and Serge Dal Busco were subject to an embargo on this confidential information. By spreading it, they were risking legal action.
Raphaël Leroy/friend