Davos 2018: Swiss authorities ban protests outside World Economic Forum citing snow

Donald Trump's plans to attend remain uncertain until US government shutdown ends

Snipers hold their position on the roof of a hotel during the World Economic Forum annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse)

Swiss authorities have barred protests outside the World Economic Forum where a number of world leaders, include President Donald Trump, will convene this week.

Citing heavy snowfall, officials in Davos said in a statement to the Associated Press that “the extremely tight space situation due to the enormous amount of new snow doesn’t allow for a rally in the coming days”.

Left-wing groups had sought permission to protest outside the annual conclave of world powerbrokers, which will be guarded by thousands of Swiss troops.

Tamara Funiciello of Switzerland’s Young Socialists called the government’s denial of protests “scandalous,” telling the AP it was “a way of hiding behind the power of global elites”.

While Mr Trump intended to attend the summit, a government shutdown that has summoned politicians back to Capitol Hill has thrown that plan into uncertainty.

Cabinet members delayed their departure on Monday, and White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said the President’s plans for Davos would cement “as the day goes on and as we see how the next couple of hours go”.

Members of Congress were continuing to work on a deal to reopen government functions as the shutdown stretched into a third day.

The President and leaders of both parties spent the weekend trading blame for the lack of a funding deal, which Democrats want to address a lapsed program that shielded hundreds of thousands of young immigrants from deportation.