Swiss voters reject proposal to strictly define neutrality in constitution

Swiss voters have rejected a national referendum aimed at enshrining a more restrictive definition of neutrality into the country's constitution. According to projections by the state broadcaster SRF, over two-thirds of the electorate voted against the proposal, which would have formally blocked Switzerland from imposing economic sanctions or cooperating with NATO. Despite Switzerland having maintained internationally recognized neutrality since 1815, the specific implementation of this policy remains legally ambiguous.

The proposal was championed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which argued that the government’s decision to impose sanctions on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine had significantly eroded the nation's traditional stance. The campaign, which utilized imagery of white peace doves under the slogan “No war, yes to neutrality,” sought to prevent future government alignment with international blocs. Conversely, the Swiss government and the majority of political parties campaigned against the measure, arguing that the current flexible approach is effective.

Experts such as Fabio Wasserfallen of the University of Bern suggested that while the Swiss public values traditional neutrality, there is broad consensus in favor of the government’s current practical applications of the policy. Following the defeat of this referendum, the status quo regarding Swiss foreign policy and international engagement remains unchanged, with no further constitutional amendments on the matter currently planned.