A parliamentary committee has decided that Swiss People’s Party politician Christoph Blocher does not have the right to parliamentary immunity for his role in events leading to the resignation of Swiss National Bank chairman Philip Hildebrand.

The committee said Blocher’s involvement in the Hildebrand affair began before he had taken the oath of office although he had been elected.

The decision paves the way for Zurich prosecutors to investigate Blocher for violating banking secrecy.

But prosecutors won’t be able to launch criminal proceedings unless another parliamentary committee reaches the same decision at the end of next month.

If the two committees disagree, Blocher is off the hook.

Blocher is suspected of involvement in the publication of controversial foreign currency transactions made by Hildebrand’s wife.