Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to impose stricter constitutional limits on the country’s neutrality, with about 70 percent voting against the initiative in a referendum held on Sunday, according to final results from the Federal Statistical Office. The outcome preserves the government’s ability to impose sanctions and cooperate with NATO, rather than restricting these choices to a narrower constitutional definition of neutrality.
The initiative aimed to define Swiss neutrality as 'perpetual and armed,' which would have prohibited Switzerland from joining or cooperating with military and defense alliances unless the country was under attack or an attack was imminent. It also sought to allow sanctions against states at war only when approved by the United Nations Security Council.
Pro Switzerland, a group advocating for national sovereignty, organized the initiative, which received backing from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), the largest party in Switzerland. Supporters of the initiative argued that joining European Union sanctions against Russia and expanding security cooperation with NATO had undermined Switzerland’s traditional neutral stance.
The SVP has acknowledged the defeat and stated it has no current plans for further action. The Swiss government, parliament, and nearly all major parties opposed the proposal, arguing that it would hinder the country’s ability to respond to international crises.
Debate over neutrality intensified following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, during which Switzerland adopted EU sanctions against Moscow, drawing criticism from Russia and proponents of stricter neutrality who claimed the Swiss government was taking sides.
Switzerland has been recognized as neutral since 1815, with neutrality forming part of its federal constitutional framework since 1848. The current policy allows the country to cooperate with other states on security and to join sanctions while remaining outside military alliances. The referendum thus focused less on whether Switzerland should maintain its neutrality and more on the extent of freedom the government should have in applying that principle in a changing European security environment.