The legal proceedings surrounding one of Switzerland’s most devastating tragedies have reached a critical juncture. Nicolas Féraud, the president of the commune of Crans-Montana, appeared before the Valais public prosecutor’s office on Monday, April 13, 2026, for his first interrogation as a defendant in the investigation into the deadly fire at the Constellation bar.
The hearing, held at the Energypolis campus in Sion, marks the first time a high-ranking political official has been questioned in the judicial probe. Féraud, a member of the PLR party, is facing serious charges including homicide by negligence, causing bodily injury by negligence, and arson by negligence following the tragedy that occurred on New Year’s Eve.
The disaster, which took place during the night of the Saint-Sylvestre, resulted in 41 deaths and between 115 and 119 injuries according to reports from RTS. The scale of the loss has placed intense scrutiny on the local administration and its failure to enforce safety protocols in the years leading up to the event.
While Féraud remains in his post as president, he has stepped back from the political management of the fire’s aftermath. He arrived at the Sion campus at approximately 08:30, accompanied by his lawyer, Me Christian Delaloye, avoiding direct interaction with the crowd of journalists awaiting his arrival.
The Core of the Investigation: Failed Safety Inspections
At the heart of the criminal case against Nicolas Féraud is the alleged systemic failure of the communal administration to conduct mandatory safety checks. Under Swiss law, establishments that receive the public are required to undergo annual inspections to ensure fire safety and structural integrity. Though, the commune of Crans-Montana has acknowledged that no fire safety controls were conducted at the Constellation bar since 2019 as reported by Le Matin.
This six-year gap in oversight is the primary focus of the prosecutor’s inquiry. Féraud must explain why these legal mandates were ignored and why the administration failed to ensure the safety of the venue. Legal representatives for the victims’ families, including Me Romain Jordan and Alain Viscolo, have raised questions regarding the staffing levels of the public security service and whether a “culture of lax administration” was allowed to prevail under Féraud’s leadership.
The investigation seeks to determine if this lack of oversight directly contributed to the tragedy. The fire was reportedly triggered by sparks from “fountain” candles, which ignited soundproofing foam on the ceiling of the bar’s basement, leading to the rapid spread of flames and the subsequent loss of life.
Legal Status and Co-Defendants
Nicolas Féraud was officially indicted on March 5, 2026. He is not the only official under investigation; he is one of nine people currently placed under criminal investigation. The other defendants include a former communal elected official and three current or former employees of the public security service.
The charges—homicide by negligence, bodily injury by negligence, and arson by negligence—reflect the severity of the alleged failures. The judicial process aims to uncover the full extent of responsibility, ranging from the bar’s owners’ failure to meet safety standards to the government’s failure to enforce those standards through regular inspections.
Key Details of the Constellation Fire Case
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | New Year’s Eve (Saint-Sylvestre) |
| Casualties | 41 deaths; 115–119 injuries |
| Primary Charges | Homicide, bodily injury, and arson (all by negligence) |
| Key Administrative Failure | No fire inspections at the venue since 2019 |
| Date of Indictment | March 5, 2026 |
Impact on the Community and Victims
For the families of the 41 victims, the interrogation of the president represents a significant milestone in the search for accountability. Attorneys for the civil parties have expressed hope that the proceedings will move beyond “voluntary ignorance” and provide concrete answers as to why the safety of the public was compromised for over half a decade.
The tragedy has had a profound impact on the international community, as many of the victims and injured were foreign nationals visiting the ski resort for the holiday season. The focus now remains on whether the administrative negligence of the commune constitutes a criminal breach of duty that led to the catastrophe.
As the Valais public prosecutor continues its series of hearings, the evidence gathered from the defendants and the analysis of the site will determine the eventual legal consequences for the leadership of Crans-Montana.
The investigation is ongoing, and further hearings with the other eight suspects are expected as the prosecutor’s office builds its case. The next official steps will involve the synthesis of these testimonies and the forensic evidence regarding the fire’s origin.
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