Swiss voters reject proposal to impose stricter constitutional neutrality rules

Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to impose a stricter constitutional definition of the country’s neutrality, with 70.1 per cent voting against the initiative in Sunday’s referendum. The proposal was promoted by the pro-sovereignty Pro Switzerland organisation and backed only by the country’s largest political party, the hard-right Swiss People’s Party. The government, parliament and most major political parties opposed it.

Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said the result was not a vote against neutrality. He told journalists in Bern that Switzerland had been neutral, remained neutral and would continue to be neutral. The initiative sought to establish that Swiss neutrality was “armed and perpetual”.

It would have prevented the country from pursuing closer ties with Nato and ruled out military alliances except in the event of an attack on Switzerland. It would also have prohibited sanctions unless they had been called for by the United Nations. The referendum followed controversy over Switzerland’s support for European Union economic measures against Russia after the invasion of Ukraine.

Moscow has criticised Bern for joining those sanctions and supported the initiative, which opponents described as pro-Russian. Supporters argued that a permanent armed neutrality would strengthen Switzerland’s credibility as a country committed to peace, diplomacy and dialogue. Opponents said the proposed rules were too rigid and would reduce the government’s ability to respond to changing geopolitical circumstances.

Cassis said neutrality had traditionally been applied with flexibility and did not mean indifference. He said Switzerland had no plan to lift its ban on selling arms to countries involved in conflict, including Ukraine, but maintained that the country should not ignore violations of international rules. The vote leaves the existing approach in place.