Italy seeks compensation from Switzerland as plaintiff in Crans-Montana legal case

Italy's government said on Wednesday ​it had registered as ​a plaintiff in ‌Swiss legal proceedings ​for the fire which killed 41 people at the Crans-Montana ski resort, including ‌six Italian nationals.

Italy's government said on Wednesday ​it had registered as ​a plaintiff in ‌Swiss legal proceedings ​for the fire which killed 41 people at the Crans-Montana ski resort, including ‌six Italian nationals. The move follows tensions between the two countries over the New Year's Eve incident, most recently over Swiss demands to ‌claim back from Italy the cost of medical treatment for Italians wounded ‌in the fire. The legal action, which would put Italy in line to receive financial compensation, is justified by the "significant resources" mobilised by the national Civil ⁠Protection ​to assist Italian victims, ⁠Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said.

It is also based on the "extremely ⁠plausible" liability of Swiss local authorities, "justifying the firm demand for compensation against all ​parties civilly liable," the Italian government said in its statement. Swiss prosecutors ⁠have launched criminal investigations into the French owners of the bar, as well ⁠as ​a number of local officials including the mayor of Crans-Montana, who admitted that his municipality missed multiple annual safety checks ⁠on the establishment. The Italian ambassador to Switzerland has noted that Italy treated ⁠Swiss patients ⁠injured in Crans-Montana in one of its hospitals, and contributed to rescue operations with a helicopter, without asking ‌for ‌any money.