Swiss voters decisively turned down a proposal on Sunday that aimed to enshrine a stricter form of neutrality in their constitution, which would have prohibited the country from imposing economic sanctions or collaborating with NATO.
The referendum results, as per state broadcaster SRF’s latest projections, revealed that over two-thirds of voters opposed the proposal for a clearly defined version of neutrality to be included in the Swiss constitution. Due to the lack of majority support from Switzerland’s regional constituencies, the initiative was effectively rejected.
While Switzerland’s neutrality has been acknowledged internationally since 1815, the specific implementation by the government remains unspecified.
The Swiss People’s Party (SVP) on the right wing stated that Switzerland’s traditional stance has been compromised following the imposition of sanctions on Russia by Bern after the Ukraine invasion.
Campaign efforts included nationwide posters urging a “No war, yes to neutrality” vote, featuring white peace doves.
Despite the SVP’s stance, most political parties and the Swiss government opposed the proposal. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis emphasized that the proposal would jeopardize national security and impede Switzerland’s cooperation with NATO.
The Green Party and the smaller Evangelical People’s Party (EVP) expressed relief at the referendum outcome. Green Party lawmaker Sibel Arslan criticized the SVP’s intentions, accusing them of seeking to isolate Switzerland internationally and evade responsibilities under international law.
Accepting the defeat, the SVP announced no immediate plans for further actions. SVP lawmaker Lukas Reimann expressed disappointment at the result but highlighted the shared commitment to Swiss neutrality expressed during the campaign.
In the future, the SVP would monitor any deviations from neutrality by the government or opponents of the initiative, such as the adoption of stricter sanctions, and would consider reactivating their efforts, Reimann noted.
Professor Fabio Wasserfallen of the University of Bern observed that Swiss voters favor neutrality and approve of the government’s current implementation. The majority also supports the sanctions on Russia in response to the Ukraine conflict and wishes to maintain the status quo.
The campaign sought to ensure that Switzerland refrains from joining any military or defense alliance unless under attack and abstains from participating in sanctions without United Nations approval. Advocates argued that Swiss neutrality has historically shielded the country from conflicts, enabling it to mediate peace negotiations.
Christoph Blocher, a prominent Swiss businessman and SVP supporter, emphasized the importance of Swiss neutrality in maintaining peace for over two centuries. He expressed concerns about deviations from neutrality in recent years, particularly in relation to the conflict involving Russia due to imposed sanctions.