Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to impose stricter rules on the country’s long-standing policy of neutrality.
The initiative was defeated by about 70.2% of voters in Sunday’s referendum, according to final results. No Swiss canton supported the proposal. Voter turnout was around 47%.
The proposal, backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and the sovereignty group Pro Suisse, sought to write a stricter definition of neutrality into Switzerland’s constitution.
Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said the result did not represent a rejection of neutrality itself.
“Switzerland was neutral yesterday, it will be neutral today and it will remain neutral,” Cassis said after the result.
Proposal Sought ‘Perpetual and Armed’ Neutrality
The initiative would have described Swiss neutrality as “perpetual and armed” in the constitution.
It also sought to prevent Switzerland from joining military or defence alliances. An exception would have applied if Switzerland itself came under attack.
The proposal would also have restricted Switzerland from imposing economic or diplomatic sanctions against countries involved in conflicts unless those measures had been ordered by the United Nations.
Supporters argued that these changes would give Switzerland a clearer and more consistent definition of neutrality.
The initiative was launched by Pro Suisse and representatives of the SVP. It gained support from the country’s largest political party, but the government, parliament and other major parties opposed it.
Ukraine War Renewed Neutrality Debate
Switzerland’s neutrality has faced renewed debate since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Although Switzerland maintains its traditional policy of neutrality, Bern adopted European Union sanctions against Moscow. Critics of that decision argued that the measures were inconsistent with Switzerland’s neutral status.
Supporters of the referendum wanted tighter constitutional restrictions on such actions.
The Swiss government and opponents of the initiative took a different view. They argued that the existing system gives the country enough flexibility to respond to changing international circumstances.
Cassis said during the campaign that neutrality should not mean ignoring violations of international law.
SVP Was Main Political Backer
The SVP was the only major parliamentary party to support the initiative. Its representatives argued that strict neutrality could strengthen Switzerland’s credibility as a country promoting peace and diplomacy.
SVP vice president Céline Amaudruz said during the campaign that Switzerland needed “perpetual armed neutrality” to maintain its role in international diplomacy.
However, the proposal failed to win majority support in any canton. The rejection was particularly strong in several German- and French-speaking areas. Basel-City recorded one of the largest opposition votes, with nearly 80% rejecting the initiative.
The result leaves Switzerland’s current approach to neutrality unchanged.
Switzerland Keeps Flexible Neutrality Policy
The referendum also showed that Swiss voters did not want to replace the country’s existing neutrality framework with the proposed stricter constitutional rules.
The debate, however, is unlikely to disappear. Switzerland continues to face questions about how neutrality should work in an increasingly tense international environment.
For now, the government retains greater flexibility over foreign policy decisions, including how Switzerland responds to international conflicts and sanctions.
