Switzerland rejects stricter interpretation of its neutrality
The initiative would have prevented the nation from imposing sanctions unless approved by the UN.
Switzerland rejects stricter interpretation of its neutrality
Russia openly backed the initiative, which would have required Switzerland to seek UN approval for sanctions
Swiss voters have decisively turned down a tougher reading of the country’s long-standing policy of diplomatic neutrality.
Official results showed that more than 70% of voters rejected proposals that would have stopped the European country from imposing sanctions without approval from the UN.
The measure would also have barred Switzerland from seeking closer relations with the Nato military alliance.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine has revived debate over Switzerland’s centuries-old policy of non-alignment.
Moscow openly supported the initiative, which was backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) and opposed by the federal government and all other major parties.
Lukas Golder, co-director of the research institute Gfs.bern, told Swiss public broadcaster SRF that voters had not rejected neutrality itself, but that the result showed Switzerland supported sanctions against Russia.
“People have a clear idea of what Switzerland’s neutrality is supposed to achieve,” he said.
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said in a recent televised debate that “neutrality has always been applied with a degree of flexibility”.
Although Switzerland had no intention of ending its ban on selling arms to countries in conflict, including Ukraine, he said that “neutrality does not mean indifference”.
He added that Switzerland would “not look away when we see violations of the very international rules that allow us to live in peace”.
Switzerland was recognised internationally in 1815, when it was granted “eternal neutrality” at the Congress of Vienna during a period of war and upheaval in Europe.
That neutrality was later defined in law by the Hague Convention of 1907, which prohibited Switzerland from supplying weapons to countries at war. It had previously turned down a German request for ammunition for tanks being sent to Kyiv.
Switzerland stayed neutral during World War Two. It also stored gold looted by the Nazis and, in an effort to prevent Nazi Germany from invading, turned away thousands of Jewish refugees.
Switzerland apologised for those policies in the 1990s.
Because Switzerland has a system of direct democracy, major political decisions are often put to voters in referenda.