Neutrality initiative trails as Swiss vote approaches

The Swiss neutrality initiative is trailing its opponents, while the food initiative remains in a statistical dead heat, according to an SRF report on the first SRG poll ahead of the September 27 vote.

If the vote had been held on August 9, 54 percent of respondents would have rejected the neutrality initiative and 42 percent would have supported it. The food initiative was opposed by 49 percent and backed by 47 percent, a result that amounts to a tie once the poll’s margin of error is taken into account.

The neutrality initiative would enshrine Switzerland’s permanent armed neutrality in the constitution. The food initiative calls for stronger domestic production, more plant-based food and better protection of drinking water.

Opposition leads on neutrality initiative

Opposition to the neutrality initiative leads among supporters of almost all political parties. The exception is the Swiss People’s Party, or SVP, where 86 percent of respondents said they would support it.

Political scientist Lukas Golder of the GFS Bern research institute said the debate ultimately centred on what neutrality means. Rejection was strongest among people over 65, although opponents held a majority in every age group. Golder said generations that experienced the Cold War were particularly sceptical of the initiative.

In cities, 59 percent of respondents opposed the proposal. Rural areas produced a narrow majority in favour, at 51 percent, while support and opposition were evenly balanced in urban outskirts.

Food initiative divides voters

The food initiative is facing a close contest. Although 49 percent of respondents said they would reject it, 47 percent said they would support it. The poll found a clear gap between current voting intentions and expectations for the result: 76 percent of eligible voters expected the initiative to be rejected in the September vote.

Supporters of the Social Democratic Party and the Green Liberal Party tended to favour the initiative, even though both parties officially oppose it. Women backed it by 55 percent, compared with 39 percent among men.

Golder said the hot summer of 2026 was likely part of the debate and had probably influenced public opinion. At the same time, the poll indicated concerns about possible consequences, including rigid deadlines that could jeopardise ongoing investments and lead to high costs.

Survey details

GFS Bern conducted the SRG poll on behalf of SRG SSR between August 3 and 16. The analysis included responses from 17,212 eligible voters. The statistical margin of error was plus or minus 2.8 percentage points.

The survey included telephone interviews with 504 eligible voters living in Switzerland, conducted via landlines and mobile phones. The sample was weighted by language region and described as representative of Swiss eligible voters.

The researchers also used cleaned online responses from 16,161 people and 547 responses collected through social media. These participants were recruited, among other ways, through SRG web portals. Because they joined through a self-recruitment opt-in process, this part of the sample was not representative of the electorate and was weighted to reflect its actual composition.