Political Storm Leaves Ticino Exposed: “The Zali Affair Is the Gravest Crisis Ticino Has Faced”

“The Zali affair” has shaken Ticino with a force that people outside the Swiss canton may struggle to grasp, according to Daniel Ritzer, editor-in-chief of the newspaper La Regione.

The crisis began in late July, when an audio recording emerged in which Claudio Zali, then president of Ticino’s Council of State, allegedly encouraged a friend to “hit” a woman who was harassing her. In the recording, Zali also said that he had done so himself. The episode pushed the Lega minister to announce his resignation, effective at the end of September.

The case then took a darker turn. The woman who released the recording was found drowned on Aug. 18. La Regione revealed that she was the person who had published documents implicating Zali. Authorities also opened a new criminal investigation into alleged violations of sexual integrity.

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The Zali affair is the gravest crisis Ticino has faced.

Ritzer describes the affair as “the most serious crisis Ticino has faced.” Zali remains a member of the cantonal government until his resignation takes effect, while he is the subject of two criminal investigations, one linked to the alleged sexual misconduct. The case has combined a political scandal, an audio recording, a resignation announcement and the death of the person who brought the material to light.

The interview examines why the affair stands apart from earlier political crises in Ticino and focuses on the unresolved questions surrounding the case.

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