Six months after fire killed 41, Crans-Montana president Nicolas Féraud apologises at first assembly

Public address after months of silence

Nearly six months after the New Year’s Eve fire at Le Constellation bar killed 41 and injured more than 100, Crans-Montana president Nicolas Féraud stood before 378 citizens in a communal assembly on Tuesday. He had not spoken publicly since a press conference on 6 January. At the start of the session, he offered a formal apology and observed a minute of silence with the hall.

“In the name of the municipal council, I apologise to the families, the victims and their loved ones for the pain and mourning they are going through.”

Four family members of victims hung A4 portrait photographs of their faces just before the meeting began, to put a human face on the tragedy. The assembly was held in a multi-purpose hall prepared for 580 participants; dozens more followed the proceedings outside on a large screen.

Inspections and safety pledges

Patrick Clivaz, the municipal councillor responsible for public safety and one of the officials under criminal investigation, announced that all public establishments would be checked by the end of the year. Fifty-six inspections have already been completed. He described the move as the council’s response to the shortcomings revealed by the disaster.

“All public establishments will be inspected by the end of the year. This is the municipal council’s response to the shortcomings identified.”

A wounded community and a permanent memorial

Féraud acknowledged the deep scars left on the commune, saying the wound would never fully heal. The council confirmed it would take part in a roundtable set up by the federal government. Discussions have begun with the Canton of Valais to establish a permanent memorial, and a commemoration is scheduled for 1 January 2027.

“This wound has bruised our commune and its inhabitants. It will never completely disappear from our memories.”

Calls for resignation and criminal probe

During the question period, one resident asked whether citizens should have a say over the continued presence of certain council members in office. Another directly demanded Féraud step down; he refused. Féraud is among 11 to 14 municipal officials (numbers vary in different reports) under criminal investigation for alleged failings linked to the fire. The case has cast a spotlight on years of neglected fire-safety checks and broader governance dysfunction in the Alpine resort.

Governance and next steps

Féraud told the assembly that establishing a municipal council had become indispensable and that the process was already underway within the communal administration for the next legislature. Financial matters were also on the agenda, with the municipality signalling it would begin building budget reserves from the 2026 accounts and would avoid a tax increase.