Ombudsman reprimands "10 to 10"
SRG Ombudsman Achille Casanova has upheld a complaint against a report on the news program «10 vor 10» about rising corruption. Among other things, the report focused on the federal government’s controversial Insieme IT project.
The Swiss television journalists questioned the then Deputy Director and current Director of the Swiss Federal Audit Office (SFAO), Michel Huissoud. When he saw the finished report, he submitted a complaint, as can be seen in the report published by the ombudsman's office on Tuesday. The online portal NZZ.ch reported on this on Wednesday. Huissoud claimed that the report contained serious errors in connection with Insieme. He no longer wanted to appear in the television report, as his statements had been misinterpreted and his comments had added weight to the false statements. In particular, Huissoud, who has headed the SFAO since January 1, pointed out that the damage caused by alleged corruption in the Insieme project had been massively overestimated. The amount of damage was in the region of a few 10,000 francs, but the report spoke of 100 million francs.
Ombudsman Casanova approved the complaint in full. The television report claims, or at least suggests, that corruption is on the rise in the Federal Administration. This impression was reinforced by an incorrect interpretation of figures. The report had not enabled the public to form its own opinion about corruption in the federal administration. (SDA)
