Voters in Switzerland rejected a stricter proposal on neutrality in a referendum held on Sunday. According to predictions, 71 percent of voters opposed these changes, while only 29 percent voted in favor.
History of Swiss Neutrality
Swiss neutrality has been recognized since the end of the Napoleonic Wars in 1815 and has been part of the country's constitution since 1848. However, the implementation of this principle by the government is not clearly defined.
Opponents and Supporters of the Proposal
This initiative was proposed by the "Pro Switzerland" association, which is a right-wing organization linked to the Swiss People's Party. Supporters of this proposal believe that the Swiss government has moved closer to the European Union and NATO since the war in Ukraine.
A survey conducted earlier this month by Swiss Broadcasting Network revealed that this move towards a stricter interpretation of Swiss neutrality lacks sufficient support. About 63 percent of respondents indicated they intended to vote against this initiative.
Almost all major political parties rejected this initiative, except for the Swiss People's Party (SVP), which supported it. Céline Amaudruz, vice president of the SVP, stated in a television debate: "Our goal is to promote peace, diplomacy, and dialogue. To achieve this goal, we must maintain our credibility through permanent armed neutrality."
Opponents' Views
Opponents of the proposal argued that in the modern world, a country cannot hide behind neutrality and treat perpetrators and victims equally. Ignazio Cassis, Switzerland's foreign minister, insisted in a recent television debate that "neutrality has always been applied with a degree of flexibility."
In-person voting will begin at 10 AM local time, and polling stations will remain open until noon. The results of this voting will be announced about an hour later.
Another referendum on food security has also been held, which calls for the Swiss population's access to quality and affordable food at all times. According to statistics, 28 percent of voters supported this initiative, while 72 percent opposed it.
The food security initiative seeks to increase food production in Switzerland.
