On Sunday - as expected - the Swiss rejected a popular initiative aimed at tightening their country's neutrality, and which has the support of the nationalist right, while its opponents described it as pro-Russian, according to preliminary estimates after the closing of the polls.
The sponsors of this project sought, according to a mechanism known as the Popular Initiative, to include in the constitution articles that strengthen Switzerland’s neutrality, by prohibiting any alliance between it and a military organization, and any adoption of economic sanctions against a third country, except for those decided by the United Nations.
The text was rejected by a wide majority of 71 percent, according to preliminary estimates published by the GSF Bern opinion polling institute, shortly after the closing of the last polling stations.
Socialist MP Laurenleman Riel said in a statement to the official RTS channel that this shows that “the Swiss are still adhering to the policy of neutrality, which allows Switzerland to impose sanctions and take a position on the international scene.” Since 1848, the Federal Constitution stipulates Switzerland's neutrality, which is rooted centuries ago in its history. On this basis, it refrains from taking sides in wars between other countries.
Two visions
However, Switzerland's implementation of the sanctions imposed by the European Union on Moscow after the Russian invasion of Ukraine, as well as its assumption of a non-permanent membership in the UN Security Council for the first time between 2023 and 2024, have sparked controversy regarding the issue of its neutrality.
Two different visions of Swiss neutrality emerge. Advocates of flexible neutrality see the need for Switzerland to be able to adapt its policy to circumstances, a logic that led it to cooperate, for example, with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) without being a member of it. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignacio Cassis recently told Swiss public radio that neutrality “has always been used with a margin of freedom of movement.” He also saw during the campaign that “neutrality does not mean that Switzerland turns a blind eye when a violation of international rules occurs.”
“Permanent neutrality”
On the other hand, the owner of the popular initiative, the Pro Suisse organization, which has an opposition orientation to European integration, adopts a more stringent vision of the concept of neutrality, and its project, which was put to a referendum, received support from the “Center Democratic Union,” a right-wing nationalist party that constitutes the largest political force in Switzerland. In a statement to public television, the party's vice president, Member of Parliament Celine Amoudroz, said, "Switzerland has an essential role to play on this planet." She added: “It's that white spot that we want to be, it's neutrality.” What we want is peace, diplomacy and dialogue. In order for us to do this, we must enjoy credibility through constant neutrality.”
The initiative was welcomed by Moscow, which accuses Bern of abandoning its neutrality by following Brussels' sanctions.
The Center Democratic Union was the only one among the major parties to support the initiative. After the first opinion polls showed a convergence in the percentages of supporters and opponents of the project, the last two polls published last week showed that a large majority of voters, exceeding 60 percent, reject the initiative, and thus adopt the government’s position.
Preliminary figures reported that 72 percent of the Swiss rejected another initiative aimed at enhancing Switzerland's food production, in an effort to reduce its dependence on abroad. This initiative, which is behind a non-partisan citizen movement, aims to raise the rate of food self-sufficiency from 42 percent in 2024 to 70 percent within 10 years, an ambition that the government considers extremely difficult. Rather, it is impossible.
The main parties also believe that this goal lacks realism, and urge its rejection, with the exception of the Green Party, which did not issue any voting recommendation. Sheldon Maseraz, vice president of the Green Youth Party, which supported the initiative, said in a statement to Swiss television on Sunday: “The goal was to achieve 70 percent self-sufficiency within 10 years.” “I think this goal raised reservations among many.”
Pope Leo of the Vatican on Sunday urged the Catholic Church to acknowledge its mistakes and heal the “deep wounds” inflicted within its ranks, hours before he was scheduled to meet with victims of sexual abuse committed by priests against children in France.
Addressing the crowds that filled a large area near a famous Catholic shrine in Lourdes, the Pope said that the Church must have the courage to confront its past, but he did not directly refer to the sexual assault scandals in France that shocked the country.
He continued, telling the crowd, whose number was estimated at about 150,000: “In order to heal the deep wounds and painful errors that occurred within (the Church), we must humbly place ourselves under the purifying gaze of the Lord.”
Leo is on a visit to France, during which he will stop in three cities over a period of four days. During the visit, Liu called on countries around the world to reconsider the development of artificial intelligence. About 800,000 people participated in a mass held on the Champs-Elysees Street in Paris yesterday.
Local church leaders hope that the Pope's visit to France will help repair the church's standing after a report issued in 2021 concluded that about 330,000 French children were subjected to sexual abuse at the hands of Catholic clergy and church members over seven decades.
During a closed meeting with French bishops earlier today, the Vatican said that the Pope directly referred to “the scourge of painful attacks committed by clergy against minors.”
The Pope thanked the bishops for the “courageous measures” he said they had taken to confront the scandals, and urged them to strengthen efforts to protect children “and to continue the path they have begun, while maintaining the utmost vigilance.”
Doubt about taking action
The Pope had previously apologized for the abuse scandals that damaged the Church's credibility around the world. During a visit to Spain in June, he told the bishops there that they must listen to survivors of abuse and provide reparations.
The Pope is scheduled to hold a closed meeting with seven French victims of sexual assault later today. Some victims expressed doubts that this meeting would result in quick changes from the church.
“I am quite skeptical that the Pope will solve this problem, at least not in the near future,” Michele Le Rheon-Genet, co-president of an association for survivors of attacks in western France, told Reuters.
She added: “Things are moving very slowly... It will not happen overnight.”
Bishop Pierre-Antoine Bouzoux, spokesman for the French bishops, said that the Pope’s desire to hold the meeting “shows that we cannot ignore this issue, and that it must always remain among our concerns.”
