Two Swiss parliamentarians have formally requested the country's attorney general to investigate luxurious gifts reportedly presented to former US President Donald Trump by Swiss business leaders just days before both nations reached a significant tariff agreement.
Criminal Complaint Filed Over Presidential Gifts
Green Party MPs Raphael Mahaim and Greta Gysin submitted a criminal complaint to the Swiss attorney general on November 26, questioning whether the gifts violated national anti-bribery legislation. The lawmakers emphasized that the events require judicial clarification to protect Switzerland's institutional credibility and international reputation.
The controversy emerged after a Swiss delegation visited Washington earlier this month to negotiate with President Trump regarding his 39-percent duties on Swiss goods. These tariffs ranked among the highest imposed during Trump's global tariff campaign that affected numerous trading partners.
The Lavish Gifts That Raised Eyebrows
Following the high-stakes meeting, observers noticed two conspicuous items appearing on the American president's desk: a Rolex table clock and an engraved gold bar. The exact value of these luxury items remains unknown, adding to the mystery surrounding the transaction.
Notable business leaders present during the Washington meeting included Rolex CEO Jean-Frederic Dufour and Marwan Shakarchi, head of precious metals trader MKS PAMP. Their presence at the negotiations has drawn additional scrutiny to the gift-giving incident.
Breakthrough Deal Follows Gift Exchange
Merely ten days after the gift exchange, Washington and Bern announced a breakthrough agreement that slashed tariffs on Swiss goods from 39% to 15%. While Swiss businesses celebrated the deal as crucial for their export-driven economy, critics quickly labeled the gift-giving as "gold bar diplomacy" and questioned whether it created the appearance of influence-peddling.
The Green MPs have specifically asked prosecutors to determine whether the gifts constituted "undue advantage under Swiss criminal law." They noted that public information regarding the final destination of the gifts given to President Trump remains incomplete, further complicating the assessment of the situation.
This development comes amid growing global concern about transparency in international trade negotiations and the potential for wealthy business interests to influence government decisions through lavish gift-giving practices.
