Swiss courts weigh reopening of Crans‑Montana restaurants amid 27,000‑signature petition

A petition on Change.org that has gathered more than 27,000 signatures is urging authorities to keep the two Crans‑Montana restaurants, Senso and Le Vieux‑Chalet, closed. The establishments, owned by French entrepreneurs Jacques and Jessica Moretti, were the scene of a New Year’s Eve fire that killed 41 people and injured 115.

The Morettis’ lawyers argue that a reopening, under a third‑party lease, is necessary to preserve the assets that could be used to compensate victims, stating: “If the businesses were not reopened, they would go bankrupt and the assets that could potentially serve to compensate the victims would be lost.” The legal team also notes that the reopening has sparked hostility, including insults and death threats, against the proprietors. All of the Morettis’ assets have been seized by criminal authorities pending the investigation into homicide, injury and negligent fire charges.

The petition seeks to halt the planned reopening, warning that preserving the restaurants could undermine justice for the victims and keep the businesses’ profits out of the compensation pool.