What happened
Voters in Switzerland have rejected a proposal to adopt a stricter interpretation of the country's neutrality, with over 70% of voters opposing the initiative. The proposal, which was backed by Russia and the right-wing Swiss People's Party, would have required Switzerland to seek UN approval before imposing sanctions and prevented the country from pursuing closer ties with the Nato military alliance.
The vote comes amid renewed debate around Switzerland's centuries-old non-alignment, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis stated that neutrality does not mean indifference and that Switzerland will not ignore violations of international rules. The country has a long history of neutrality, dating back to 1815 when it was granted eternal neutrality at the Congress of Vienna.
Switzerland's system of direct democracy allows voters to decide on major political issues through referenda. In this case, the voters have chosen to maintain the country's flexibility in applying its neutrality, rather than adopting a stricter interpretation. The result suggests that Swiss voters support sanctions against Russia and want their country to play a more active role in international affairs.
