Swiss voters are set to reject a proposal that would write a stricter and more detailed doctrine of neutrality into the federal constitution, leaving the government room to continue security cooperation and sanctions outside the United Nations system.
With counting still under way on Sunday afternoon, the federal results service recorded roughly 69 per cent voting no. None of the cantons reported as decided had accepted the measure. Its principal backers conceded defeat, making a reversal no longer a realistic prospect even though the tally remained formally intermediate.
The initiative would have declared Switzerland permanently and militarily neutral, barred it from joining a military or defence alliance and sharply limited sanctions against states at war. Measures ordered by the UN Security Council would remain possible, as would steps intended to prevent another country from evading sanctions.
Neutrality is already embedded in Swiss foreign policy and recognised in constitutional provisions assigning duties to federal authorities. The proposal sought to give the concept a more prescriptive constitutional form. Supporters argued that recent sanctions and closer ties with NATO had weakened a defining national principle. The government and Parliament said the text would reduce Switzerland’s ability to respond to international crises and protect its economic and security interests.
The debate was shaped by the country’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Switzerland adopted European Union sanctions while maintaining that economic measures do not make it a party to the conflict. The initiative’s opponents warned that restricting sanctions to the UN framework would often leave the country unable to act because permanent Security Council members can veto decisions involving themselves or their allies.
A popular initiative must win both a majority of votes nationwide and a majority of cantons. Sunday’s count showed it falling far short on each measure. The official proposal, arguments and continuing results are available through the Swiss federal information portal.
