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Natacha Buffet Desfayes Leaves the FAD Day After Nicole Valiquer Grecuccio's Departure
Herz — World Desk · · 30s summary · 2 min read
The essentials
On August 25, 2026, Geneva council member Natacha Buffet Desfayes announced her resignation from the Dramatic Arts Foundation (FAD), one day after Nicole Valiquer Grecuccio's departure. She criticizes how the Geneva Court of Audit report was handled—management was confined to the board's executive committee, excluding full council members. Buffet Desfayes attributes the crisis to a failed governance transition and insufficient management of organizational scaling. The FAD employs approximately 80 people (68 full-time equivalents) and receives 13 million CHF in annual public funding. Despite leaving, she maintains her seat in Geneva's cantonal parliament.
- Buffet Desfayes resigns from the FAD on August 25, 2026, day after Valiquer Grecuccio's departure
- She criticizes the Court of Audit report handled by board executive only, excluding full council
- She attributes crisis to failed governance transition and inadequate organizational scaling
- The FAD employs 80 positions and receives 13 million CHF in annual public funding
- She maintains her cantonal parliament seat despite departing the FAD
What We Know
On August 25, 2026, Natacha Buffet Desfayes announced her resignation from the Dramatic Arts Foundation (FAD), one day after Nicole Valiquer Grecuccio's departure was announced. This decision, described as having been contemplated for several days, comes amid persistent institutional crisis within the foundation, according to Léman Bleu.
She criticizes the fact that the Geneva Court of Audit report—a constitutional-rank authority created in 2006, tasked with auditing Geneva's public policies—was handled by the board's executive committee alone, without involving all council members. She considers this situation "hardly acceptable."
She further criticizes the direction of debate following the audit's publication: the controversy focused too heavily on the presence of political representatives on the council, whereas the Court of Audit primarily recommends clearly defining the necessary competencies and those actually present.
Context
Since arriving in spring 2026, Buffet Desfayes says she experienced "a form of blockage" from the start at the FAD. She believes her political experience and cultural interests did not find their intended place.
a form of blockage
— Natacha Buffet Desfayes, on her FAD experience since spring 2026
She attributes the crisis to a "complete system" including organizational scaling linked to the New Comedy theater and a governance transition that, in her words, "clearly missed the mark." The FAD now employs approximately 80 people, or 68 full-time equivalents.
She points to the lack of control mechanisms highlighted by the audit and the role of the City of Geneva's cultural department. According to her, future co-governance and co-financing with the canton must be based on stronger foundations.
Despite leaving the FAD, Buffet Desfayes announces she will maintain her seat in Geneva's cantonal parliament and continue her cultural engagement.
The Numbers
13 million CHF
annual public funding for the FAD from Geneva taxpayers
80 (68 full-time equivalents)
current FAD positions
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