The noise between the Migros and your regional Prince in the cooperative neuchâtel-Fribourg (MNF) continues. On Wednesday, the result of the historic vote was released: The President of the Damien Piller and the three remaining members of the Board of Directors – Philippe Menoud, Marcelle Junod and Jean-Paul Eltschinger – is allowed to remain. A clear majority of 64.5 per cent of votes cast by the participating Cooperative members voted against the dismissal of the Board of Directors and, therefore, against the recommendation of all the bodies of the giant oranges.
For the Migros which is a brutal setback. But she’s not giving up the fight after losing the vote. The co-operation Council – he represents the interests of the Cooperative members – has filed a complaint for forgery and attempted fraud. “There is a strong suspicion of election tampering, which is why the outcome of this election needs to be examined,” said Migros neuchâtel-Fribourg. You reserve the right to let the result of the vote once more.
“We take the today announced results for the knowledge. Migros will do everything possible to support the members of the management and the employees in this difficult Situation,” says Daniel Bena, the President of the enjoyed County Council.
Postman finds suspicious ballots
The Western Swiss television (TSR) had already pointed out on Monday evening for possible cases of fraud. A postal clerk had discovered 400 alleged ballot, and in small communities outside of the cantons of neuchâtel and Fribourg. Voting only members of neuenburg-Freiburg were entitled to but. The 400 ballots voted, all for the whereabouts of Damien Piller in the office. The office of the public Prosecutor of the Canton of neuchâtel confirmed the receipt of the notification. You ordered already, to secure all of the ballots.
“We the rest are going to recover within the regional cooperative again.”André Clerc, Board of Directors representative
Damien Piller has not commented publicly. In its place André Clerc, the representative of the Board of Directors, brought his satisfaction over the result of the vote and thanked the voters “for their foresight and trust”. The Cooperative members had not by the Propaganda of the Migros-genossenschafts-Bund in Zurich influence, he writes in a message. The result was clearly and “permanently”. The Board of Directors will decide “in the near future on the measures to take in order to the rest within the regional cooperative to restore”.
From the 124’000 persons entitled to vote took part in over 50’000 members of the auditing company PWC carried out the vote. According to the PWC voter turnout to nearly 42 percent. This is amazing and nourishes the suspicion of manipulation. In the cooperative, the turnout was the annual vote on the year’s result in each case between 15 and 18 percent, although in each case, for all participants a bar of chocolate as a reward.
Piller because of unfaithful management displayed
The dispute with Piller of employees, Migros is now already for months. The Migros-genossenschafts-Bund in Zurich, had submitted in the summer of criminal charges against the Piller. He accuses the Freiburg-based real estate entrepreneur who is Chairman of the regional cooperative for 23 years, disloyal management. He is said to have obtained in the case of construction projects for two Migros branches in the Canton of Fribourg by the Migros payments of 1.6 million Swiss francs, for which there is no return.
The report made it clear that in the face of Piller’s multiple functions, conflicts of interest existed.
subsequently, the Directorate of regional cooperative criminal charges filed. In addition, all national and regional Migros bodies deprived of the entire Board of Directors of the trust and asked the members to resign. Only a member of the Board resigned as a result: Elena Wildi-Ballabio, in the main professional Executive Secretary of the Federal Council, Ignazio Cassis. A by the Board of Directors to Piller commissioned expert report, which basically confirmed the findings of the investigation report, the Migros-Genossenschafts-had given the Federal order.
Above all, the experts were unable to determine what concrete should be done for the 1.6 million Swiss francs. In addition, the report points to contradictions in the statements by Pillers. The report made it clear that in the face of Piller’s multiple functions in these projects, considerable interest existed conflicts.
Damien Piller denies all allegations and does not want to give his office. Because of the co-operation Council can’t vote the Board of Directors simply had to be carried out for a vote. The lawsuit against the result of the vote, the conflict is now in the next round.
see also our analysis and learn why the affair of Damien Piller is just the grellste warning signal for the ailing state of the orange giant.
Created: 20.11.2019, 21:24 PM
