Swiss coalition files referendum against lifting nuclear plant ban

A broad coalition has filed a referendum seeking to keep Switzerland’s ban on building new nuclear power plants, SRF reported. Representatives of the Social Democratic Party, the Greens, the Green Liberal Party and some members of the Centre Party submitted more than 131,800 signatures in Bern on Tuesday.

The coalition wants to prevent the existing ban from being lifted. Green Party president Lisa Mazzone said nuclear power was an outdated, expensive and dangerous technology.

Supporters of the “Stop the blackout” initiative argue that Switzerland needs nuclear power to secure electricity supplies in winter, when the country cannot produce enough electricity to meet demand and relies on imports. Swiss nuclear plants currently provide just under 30 percent of domestic electricity production.

“We believe renewables alone are not enough,” said Vanessa Gassler-Meury, of the initiative committee. She said solar power was intermittent, while nuclear plants supplied baseload electricity and produced low-carbon power during winter.

Solar power generation has also increased in winter. Last winter, it produced more than two terawatt-hours, matching the amount of winter electricity targeted through planned hydropower expansion by 2040. Supporters of solar power fear that lifting the nuclear ban could slow the growth of renewables.

Green Liberal Party president Jürg Grossen has called in parliament for solar subsidies not to be cut. Centre Party member of parliament Priska Wismer-Felder also backs the referendum, saying Switzerland should focus on renewable energy rather than spread resources across different approaches.

The role of nuclear power in securing Switzerland’s winter electricity supply is expected to be a central issue in the campaign. If the referendum officially qualifies, voters could go to the polls on the proposed legal change as early as February 28, 2027.