[1][2][3] Long described as "prodigy" of Swiss politics,[4] Maudet became embroiled in a series of legal battles after a controversial undeclared all-expense trip to Abu Dhabi.

Maudet ended up being expelled from the Geneva branch of the FDP, resigned from his position at the cantonal government in 2021 and lost his bid for re-election to Green Party candidate Fabienne Fischer.

[10] In November 2015, Pierre Maudet and his family, his former chief of staff Patrick Baud-Lavigne and Antoine Daher, a friend active in real estate in Geneva, made a luxury trip to Abu Dhabi.

[11] A police report on the trip was submitted to the courts in August 2017, and proceedings were opened against an unknown person, Pierre Maudet and his chief of staff.

In August 2018, the public prosecutor claims Pierre Maudet accepted flights and accommodation for an amount estimated at several tens of thousands of Swiss francs.

[13] In September 2018, the Council of State of Geneva decided to temporarily withdraw the Presidential Department from Pierre Maudet, now entrusted to Antonio Hodgers.