Swiss voters reject bid to lock in stricter neutrality, preserving ability to sanction Russia
Swiss voters on 27 September rejected a referendum initiative that would have enshrined a stricter 'eternal and armed' neutrality in the constitution. The result preserves the Swiss government's flexibility to join EU sanctions against Russia. The initiative was put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) in reaction to Switzerland's February 2022 decision to align with EU sanctions after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Key points
- Referendum held on 27 September; voters rejected the proposal to enshrine 'eternal and armed' neutrality in the constitution.
- Official results published by the Federal Council: 70.15% against, 29.85% in favour; none of Switzerland's 26 cantons supported the initiative.
- The initiative would have banned Switzerland from joining military alliances and from imposing sanctions not approved by the UN.
- It was proposed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP); the government, both chambers of parliament, and all major parties except the SVP opposed it.
- Former SVP leader and Federal Council member Christoph Blocher was a key author and reportedly spent around 2 million Swiss francs (about $2.4 million) on the campaign.
- Moscow publicly called on Swiss voters to back the initiative.
- The outcome preserves the government's flexibility to apply neutrality case by case, including continuing to join EU sanctions against Russia; it does not mean Switzerland is abandoning neutrality.
Why it matters
The result preserves Switzerland's ability to join EU sanctions against Russia, a key element of Western pressure on Moscow, and leaves open further alignment with Western sanctions and defence-related policy steps. The rejection came despite Moscow publicly urging Swiss voters to back the initiative and despite roughly 2 million Swiss francs spent on the campaign by a key backer. A founder of the initiative has documented business ties to Russia through family-controlled companies that continued operating there after the full-scale invasion, a fact that shaped the political backdrop.
What happened
On 27 September, Swiss voters went to the polls on an initiative that would have entrenched an 'eternal and armed' neutrality in the Swiss constitution. The proposal would have prohibited Switzerland from joining military alliances and from imposing sanctions not approved by the UN. Official results published by the Federal Council showed 70.15% against and 29.85% in favour, with none of the 26 cantons backing the initiative. The initiative had been put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), whose former leader and ex-Federal Council member Christoph Blocher was a key author and reportedly spent around 2 million Swiss francs (about $2.4 million) on the campaign. The government, both chambers of parliament, and all major parties except the SVP opposed the change. Moscow publicly called on Swiss voters to vote in favour. The outcome preserves the Swiss government's flexibility to apply neutrality case by case and, in particular, to continue joining EU sanctions against Russia. The result does not amount to Switzerland abandoning its neutral status.
Background
Switzerland's permanent armed neutrality has been internationally recognized since 1815 and has been part of the Swiss constitution since 1848. The initiative was put forward by the SVP in response to Switzerland's February 2022 decision to join EU sanctions against Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. An earlier SRG poll in early September had shown opposition at 63% and support at 34%. In August, Switzerland expanded its sanctions against Russia, adding nine individuals and 45 companies to its lists, and earlier in 2022 froze Russian assets worth around 5.75 billion Swiss francs. A separate SVP initiative to cap Switzerland's population at 10 million was also rejected by voters in June. A further Swiss referendum is scheduled for November, on a left-wing initiative against easing the war materials law.