Referendum group warns arms law change could damage Switzerland’s credibility

A committee opposing a relaxation of Switzerland’s War Materiel Act says the change could undermine the country’s credibility as a mediator. The group presented its arguments in Bern ahead of the November 29 referendum, SRF reported.

The committee includes representatives of the Social Democratic Party, the Greens and the Evangelical People’s Party. Marc Jost, an EVP member of the National Council from Bern, said Switzerland could not act as a mediator in conflicts in the morning and supply ammunition for those same conflicts in the afternoon. That would seriously harm the country’s good offices, he said.

Jost said the vote concerned political reliability, democratic oversight and Switzerland’s humanitarian reputation. Fabian Molina, a Social Democratic member of the National Council from Zurich, also warned that the country’s credibility was at risk.

Molina said the proposal was exposed by the fact that Ukraine would be excluded from the exemptions, despite defending itself against what he called Russia’s violation of international law. He attributed the decision to the Swiss People’s Party.

In December 2025, the two chambers of parliament voted to ease arms export rules, citing the interests of Swiss defence companies. The National Council approved the change by 122 votes to 68, with six abstentions; the Council of States voted 31 to 11, with one abstention.

Exports will still be prohibited when the destination country is involved in an armed conflict. The revised rules, however, exempt 36 countries. Opponents announced they would challenge the reform when parliament approved it.