A conservative initiative would enshrine ‘perpetual and armed’ neutrality in Switzerland’s Constitution.
On Sunday, Swiss citizens will go to the polls to decide whether the neutrality of their country, enshrined in its Constitution since 1848, should be made even stricter than it is today.
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The referendum asks voters to accept or reject an initiative launched by Pro Switzerland, a nationalist and conservative association that proposes specifying in the federal Constitution that neutrality be “perpetual and armed.”
According to the initiative’s supporters, instruments should be strengthened to ensure that Switzerland cannot join any military or defensive alliance, such as NATO, of which it is not a member, or cooperate with them, except in the event of a direct military attack against the country.
In addition, Switzerland should not participate in military conflicts between third countries or impose sanctions on a country involved in a conflict, except for those imposed by the United Nations.
The latter point contrasts with the current situation, in which Switzerland has imposed sanctions on Russia, with measures equivalent to those imposed by the European Union, affecting 2,790 Russian citizens and entities in the country. Those sanctions have led Russia to accuse Switzerland of having lost its status as a neutral actor.
Swiss Neutrality Council: Cumulative Erosion of Neutrality#NATO and #EU Ties Violate #Swiss Core Legal Foundationshttps://t.co/8j8zfDaVd7 pic.twitter.com/kelPa0yaSD
— Global Research (@CrGlobalization) September 23, 2026
The Swiss government and Parliament have recommended voting against the initiative, which politically appears to have the support only of the conservative Swiss People’s Party, the most-voted party in recent elections but without a parliamentary majority.
In the view of the executive and legislative branches, the neutrality enshrined in the 1848 Constitution has proven effective and provides some “room for maneuver” in today’s changing world, which would be limited if the “Yes” vote prevailed.
A victory for “Yes” would reduce the country’s ability to preserve its security and independence, the government and Parliament insist. The initiative’s supporters stress that it would be a way to ensure that Switzerland remains neutral without the risk of the concept of neutrality being interpreted in different ways depending on external pressures.
They also believe the text would protect Switzerland from a closer alignment with NATO and prevent it from siding with either party in a conflict. The most recent voting-intention polls indicate that the “No” option could prevail with more than 60% of the vote.
teleSUR/ JF
Source: EFE
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