Swiss government urges voters to reject neutrality initiative

Switzerland’s Federal Council and Parliament are recommending that voters reject the neutrality initiative without a counterproposal, SRF reported. Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis argued on Tuesday that retaining the current rules would preserve Switzerland’s room for manoeuvre in foreign policy.

The initiative, which will be put to a vote on September 27, seeks to enshrine permanent and armed neutrality in the Swiss constitution. It would impose a stricter interpretation of neutrality, the official voting booklet says.

The government and Parliament argue that the constitution currently provides deliberate flexibility, allowing Switzerland to respond appropriately to rapidly changing geopolitical situations in the country’s interests.

Supporters of rejecting the initiative say Switzerland is already permanently and militarily neutral under established constitutional practice. It would not join military or defence alliances or take part in conflicts between third countries.

At the same time, they say Switzerland must remain able to impose sanctions in cases of blatant violations of international law or wars of aggression.

The initiative also calls for a broad constitutional ban on sanctions. Economic sanctions would be permitted only if ordered by the United Nations Security Council, although measures against sanctions evasion would remain possible. Switzerland could cooperate with military or defence alliances only in the event of a direct armed attack.

The initiative was launched after Russia’s attack on Ukraine, when Switzerland adopted European Union sanctions against Russia.