In Switzerland, 70% voted against the initiative to strengthen neutrality

70.15% of Swiss citizens voted against stricter neutrality. This follows from the results of the referendum held in the country today. Almost 30% supported the initiative. Turnout was 47%.

The initiative involves enshrining in the constitution a provision on the permanent and armed neutrality of the country, as well as stricter rules for its application. According to the draft, Switzerland cannot join or cooperate with military or defensive alliances. Exceptions include attacking or preparing an attack on a country. The bill also prohibits the Swiss government from imposing sanctions unless it is a UN measure.

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said that the rejection of the initiative to preserve neutrality in the referendum does not mean that the country will abandon it. “This result is not a vote against neutrality. Switzerland was neutral yesterday, it is neutral today and will remain neutral in the future.

The referendum was initiated by the right-wing Swiss People's Party. Its representatives argued that the traditional neutrality of the country was undermined after Switzerland joined the sanctions against Russia in 2022. Since then, the country has imposed restrictive measures against some 2,700 Russian individuals and legal entities. In addition, financial assets worth 8.5 billion Swiss francs ($ 10.4 billion) were frozen in the country.

In the article “Neutrality is no longer the same.”.