Bern says it wants to retain security policy flexibility and the ability to adopt non-UN sanctions, as it did against Russia<\/p>\n
The Swiss government and parliament are urging voters to reject a proposal during an upcoming referendum that would strengthen the country\u2019s neutrality policy by constraining Bern\u2019s ability to impose unilateral sanctions.
\nThe motion is being pushed by pro-sovereignty politicians, who have criticized the government\u2019s decision to largely adopt EU sanctions against Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022.<\/p>\n
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Under the current system that the Federal Council seeks to preserve, the seven-member ruling body decides on a case-by-case basis whether Switzerland should copy restrictions imposed by other Western nations.
\nThe proposed amendment will be put to a nationwide vote on Sunday, September 27.
\nWhy do sanctions matter?
\nSwitzerland largely aligned itself with the EU sanctions regime targeting Russia after the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in February 2022.
\nAs of July, Bern reported freezing 8.5 billion Swiss francs ($10.3 billion) in assets owned by Russian companies and individuals targeted by Brussels and another 6.8 billion francs ($8.2 billion) in funds owned by the Russian Central Bank. The Swiss Federal Council has rejected calls to confiscate the money.
\nMoscow has repeatedly accused Switzerland of abandoning its traditional neutrality by taking the sanctions path, arguing that it had lost its standing as a \u201ctrusted neutral mediator.\u201d<\/p>\n
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov meets Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis, New York City, USA, September 24, 2024.<\/p>\n
\u00a9\u00a0 Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs <\/p>\n
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow\u2019s stance to Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis personally, when the two met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly session in New York in July 2025.
\nRussia as well as several other non-Western nations reject any sanctions not authorized by the UN as illegal under international law and consider them a form of economic warfare.<\/p>\n
What is at stake in Sunday\u2019s vote?
\nThe \u201cSafeguard Swiss neutrality\u201d initiative was launched by the Pro Schweiz (For Switzerland) pro-sovereignty movement and figures associated with the conservative Swiss People\u2019s Party (SVP), which strongly backs the proposal.<\/p>\n
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It would define Switzerland\u2019s neutrality in the Constitution as \u201cperpetual and armed.\u201d Switzerland would be barred from joining or cooperating with military or defense alliances unless it was facing a direct military attack.
\nThe country would also be prohibited from imposing sanctions against belligerent states, with exceptions for measures mandated by the UN and those intended to prevent sanctions circumvention.
\nA newly-strengthened neutrality policy would be used to \u201cprevent and resolve conflicts\u201d and \u201cto act as a mediator,\u201d if the proposal is passed.
\nWho is against it?
\nThe Swiss Federal Council argues that the more rigid interpretation would restrict Switzerland\u2019s freedom of action and could weaken its national security. Parliament has also recommended rejecting the initiative.
\n\u201cAnyone who waits until the crisis is already here before they are willing to cooperate is too late,\u201d Cassis has said.
\nThe government is particularly opposed to surrendering its ability to decide whether to adopt sanctions.<\/p>\n
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\u201cNeutrality does not require an automatic response,\u201d the councillor said. \u201cIt requires us to take responsibility and weigh up our interests.\u201d\u00a0
\nWho backs it?
\nSVP President Marcel Dettling has accused Cassis and Swiss diplomats of seeking to erode neutrality and \u201cplay the big shot everywhere in the world.\u201d
\n\u201cSwitzerland is neutral. This means we do not interfere in foreign affairs. Every individual is entitled to their own opinion, but official Switzerland is neutral and offers its good offices to all parties in conflict,\u201d he said.
\nSVP member Christoph Blocher, who was a member of the Federal Council in the 2000s, rejected the notion that neutrality should be \u201cflexible,\u201d denouncing it as \u201cdangerous nonsense.\u201d<\/p>\n
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The SVP argues that fixed constitutional rules would make Swiss policy more predictable and enhance the country\u2019s credibility as a mediator. It also contends that unilateral sanctions against parties to a conflict are incompatible with staying neutral on it.
\nWhat do the polls say?
\nRecent surveys show substantially more respondents opposing the neutrality initiative than supporting it.
\nA LeeWas survey for 20 Minuten and Tamedia, conducted earlier this month among 12,948 eligible voters, found 31% supported the initiative and 68% opposed it. Support had fallen by five percentage points compared with the previous survey wave.
\nHistorically, Swiss voters have often sided with the Federal Council\u2019s recommendations.<\/p>\n
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In June, they rejected the SVP-backed proposal to cap Switzerland\u2019s population below 10 million through 2050, with 54.79% voting against and 45.21% in favor. The Federal Council had opposed the initiative.
\nOn the same day, voters approved stricter rules governing access to alternative civilian service by 52.46% to 47.54%. That measure intended to preserve participation in the mandatory military service was backed by the Federal Council and parliament, with the SVP being among the supporting parties.
\nHow does Swiss direct democracy work?
\nSwitzerland has one of the world\u2019s most extensive systems of direct democracy, with voters deciding national issues up to four times a year, often with several proposals on the ballot at once.
\nA popular initiative seeking to amend the Constitution requires 100,000 valid signatures collected within 18 months before it can proceed through the political process toward a nationwide vote. Constitutional amendments require a double majority \u2013 a majority of voters nationwide and a majority of the cantons \u2013 to pass.
\nRules are less restrictive for optional referendums on laws passed by parliament.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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