Swiss population rejects tightening of neutrality
More than 70 percent of those entitled to vote voted against the neutrality initiative
Quick Look
- In a referendum, over 70 percent of the Swiss population rejected an initiative to tighten neutrality.
- The strict neutrality demanded by the 'Pro Switzerland' association would have prohibited cooperation with military alliances and sanctions.
AI-generated summary
Why It Matters
Swiss neutrality has been enshrined in the constitution since 1848. It prohibits joining military alliances and participating in wars of other states.
Switzerland is politically neutral. This is already enshrined in the country's constitution. However, a majority of the population apparently rejects making this requirement even stricter. According to initial projections, more than 70 percent were against such a step in a referendum.
The initiative for the vote was initiated by the “Pro Switzerland” association, which is close to the right-wing conservative SVP. The face and head of the initiative is former Federal Councilor Christoph Blocher, a multi-billionaire and avowed opponent of the EU.
The aim of the initiative was to anchor Switzerland's "perpetual and armed" neutrality in the constitution with a new constitutional article. Swiss neutrality dates back to 1516 and has been enshrined in the constitution since 1848. It states that Switzerland will not join any military alliance and will not take part in the wars of other states.
No cooperation with military alliances, no sanctions
But that didn’t go far enough for the “Pro Switzerland” association. She demanded that Switzerland no longer work with any military and defense alliance such as NATO in the future. Unless it is attacked militarily.
Furthermore, Switzerland should no longer take sanctions against belligerent states in the future. Unless these follow a decision by the UN Security Council.
Switzerland had largely taken on punitive measures against Russia
It was primarily because of this point of view that the initiative also received support from Russia, against which the EU has imposed comprehensive sanctions since the beginning of the war of aggression against Ukraine. Switzerland had largely taken over the punitive measures. The “Pro Switzerland” association argued that it had already violated the neutrality requirement.
The Swiss government and most political parties had clearly opposed the initiative for strict neutrality in advance. They argued that Switzerland's security could only be guaranteed in cooperation with other countries. In addition, perpetrators and victims of an armed conflict should not be treated equally.
Open Questions
- How does Russia react to the confirmation of Swiss sanctions policy?
