Author: Adrian Hopf-Sulc, Jon Mettler
Source: Tagesanzeiger
Publication Date: 27.11.2025
Summary Reading Time: 4 minutes
Executive Summary
Switzerland's second-largest railway operator BLS has received excessive subsidies from federal and cantonal governments for years – and is now attempting to conceal the extent of the affair through massive censorship of an investigation report. The PWC analysis reveals systematic subsidy fraud since at least 2013, passive resistance from employees against the investigation, and deliberate deletion of emails and protocols. Former BLS CEO Bernard Guillelmon has been charged but today works as a business consultant and lecturer – partially in BLS premises. The case raises fundamental questions about transparency, control, and accountability in state-affiliated enterprises.
Critical Guiding Questions
1. How can a state-controlled enterprise systematically abuse subsidies and then obstruct investigation through censorship – without owners and supervisory authorities intervening effectively?
2. Where does legitimate business secrecy end and where does the obligation for complete transparency begin for companies that are 55% owned by Canton Bern and financed with taxpayer money?
3. What credibility does a "new corporate culture" have when the main person responsible for the scandal continues to appear as a lecturer on "Strategic Management in Public Transport" – in the premises of the damaged BLS?
Scenario Analysis: Future Perspectives
Short-term (1 year):
Criminal proceedings against Guillelmon could fail due to procedural errors – which would exonerate BLS management but damage trust in the justice system. Politics faces pressure to tighten control mechanisms for state-affiliated enterprises. Media and public demand complete transparency of the PWC report.
Medium-term (5 years):
The case could become a precedent for applying the principle of public access to state-controlled companies. Tightened compliance rules and external oversight could restrict the autonomy of public transport companies. Reputational damage threatens acceptance of further subsidy increases in public transport.
Long-term (10–20 years):
Without structural reforms, systematic distrust of state-affiliated enterprises threatens. The balance between entrepreneurial freedom and state control must be recalibrated. The case exemplifies how lack of transparency and weak governance structures lead to abuse of power – with consequences for the entire debate on public services.
Main Summary
Core Topic & Context
BLS, Switzerland's second-largest railway operator and 55% owned by Canton Bern, systematically received excessive subsidies since at least 2013 through deliberate misrepresentation of revenues from half-fare subscriptions. After becoming known in 2020, the board of directors commissioned PWC with an investigation, whose results are now to be withheld from the public through massive censorship – despite legal obligation to provide information under the principle of public access.
Most Important Facts & Figures
- Period of fraud: Known since at least 2013 in the pricing systems department
- Investigation scope: PWC analyzed 392 gigabytes of data, hundreds of thousands of pages of documents and emails, conducted 32 interviews
- Censorship: Of 66 pages of PWC report, large sections were redacted, only two-page summary published
- Legal costs: BLS paid over 11,000 francs to Kellerhals Carrard to prevent disclosure
- Executive management knowledge: BLS leadership was informed by March 2017 at the latest, board of directors only in 2019
- Deleted evidence: Email accounts of 8 former executive management members completely deleted, 12 protocols of extraordinary meetings disappeared
- Employees: BLS employs nearly 4,000 people
Stakeholders & Affected Parties
Directly affected:
- Taxpayers of federal and cantonal governments (financial damage through excessive subsidies)
- BLS employees (reputational damage, cultural change)
- Accused: Ex-CEO Bernard Guillelmon and another executive management member
Involved institutions:
- Canton Bern (majority shareholder with 55%)
- Federal Office of Transport (subsidy provider, prosecutor)
- Bernese Transport Directorate (supervision)
- PWC (investigation)
- Lucerne University of Applied Sciences (Guillelmon as lecturer)
Opportunities & Risks
Opportunities:
- Transparency debate: The case can lead to stricter disclosure obligations for state-affiliated enterprises
- Governance reform: Tightened compliance and independent controls could prevent future abuse
- Cultural change: New BLS leadership has introduced whistleblowing office and adjusted bonus system
Risks:
- Judicial failure: Proceedings could fail due to procedural error – damaging trust in the rule of law
- Precedent for non-transparency: Successful censorship could encourage other state enterprises to cover up scandals
- Loss of trust: Systematic cover-up fundamentally undermines acceptance of public transport subsidies
- Normalization: Guillelmon's career as lecturer signals lack of consequences for responsible parties
Action Relevance
For decision-makers:
- Political level: Clarification of whether the principle of public access is consistently enforced for state-affiliated enterprises
- Supervisory bodies: Review of control mechanisms in all comparable state enterprises
- Judiciary: Timely clarification of proceedings against Guillelmon – credibility is at stake
Moral responsibility:
BLS, as a publicly controlled company, bears special accountability obligations. The massive censorship of the report directly contradicts the claim of a "new corporate culture."
Communication needs:
Canton Bern as main shareholder must publicly explain why it tolerates non-transparency and whether further measures are planned.
Quality Assurance & Fact-Checking
✅ Facts checked on: 27.11.2025
Verified core statements:
- PWC investigation and Guillelmon's resignation 2020: confirmed by primary source
- Principle of public access applies to public service providers: Bernese law
- Legal costs over 11,000 francs: documented in article
- Guillelmon currently lecturer at Lucerne University: mentioned in article
⚠️ To be verified:
- Exact amount of illegally received subsidies (not quantified in article)
- Details on second charged executive management member (name not mentioned)
- Procedural error that could lead to failure of proceedings (not specified)
Supplementary Research
1. Principle of public access for state enterprises:
Bernese Law on Public Information (IDG) – Art. 2: Applies to "providers of public services"
Systematic Legal Collection Canton Bern
2. BLS ownership structure:
Canton Bern: 55.41%, other cantons and private shareholders
BLS Annual Report 2023
3. PWC Forensic Services:
Specialized department for fraud investigations and compliance audits in economic crimes
PWC Switzerland – Forensic Services
Source Directory
Primary source:
BLS Subsidy Fraud: PWC Report Shows Redacted Truth – Tagesanzeiger, 27.11.2025
Supplementary sources:
- Bernese Information and Data Protection Act (IDG) – Canton Bern
- BLS AG – Annual Report and Ownership Structure
- PWC Switzerland – Forensic Services Overview
Verification status: ✅ Facts checked on 27.11.2025
Journalistic Compass
🔍 Power critique: ✅ Systematic cover-up by state-affiliated enterprise is ruthlessly documented
⚖️ Freedom vs. control: ✅ Tension between entrepreneurial autonomy and transparency obligation clearly identified
🕊️ Transparency: ✅ Censorship identified as central problem – facts take precedence over corporate interests
💡 Food for thought: ✅ Fundamental questions on governance, responsibility, and consequences for state enterprises raised
Bias labeling:
The Tagesanzeiger article shows investigative strength but remains uncritical of the statements of the current BLS chief when assessing the "new corporate culture." This summary supplements this perspective with critical questions about the credibility of the reforms.
Version: 1.0
Created: 27.11.2025
Contact: [email protected]
License: CC-BY 4.0