Swiss Voters Set to Reject Stricter Neutrality Rules

Nearly two-thirds of Swiss voters oppose a proposal to tighten the country's neutrality rules by restricting sanctions and military cooperation. The initiative will go to a nationwide vote on 27 September.

A poll conducted for 20 Minuten and Tamedia found that 62% of respondents opposed the initiative, while 32% supported it. The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) backs the proposal, while the government and most other major parties oppose it.

The initiative would enshrine Switzerland's “permanent and armed” neutrality in the constitution. It would prevent the country from joining military or defense alliances unless Switzerland itself came under attack. Cooperation with such alliances would also be restricted if it created obligations in the event of war.

Switzerland would also be barred from participating in military conflicts between third countries or imposing sanctions on belligerent states, except where required by the United Nations. The proposal was launched after Switzerland adopted EU sanctions against Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.

The same poll suggests that voters are also poised to reject a separate food-security initiative calling for greater domestic production, increased consumption of plant-based foods and stronger protection of water, soil and biodiversity. 65% of respondents oppose the proposal.

(Reuters, bak)