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Switzerland rejects proposal for stricter neutrality in referendum

In a referendum, Swiss voters have decisively opposed a stricter definition of the principle of neutrality.

27 September 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: Switzerland rejects proposal for stricter neutrality in referendum — Archive photoPhoto: Tschubby · Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0

On Sunday, Swiss voters cast their ballots on a proposal to enshrine a stricter definition of the principle of neutrality in the constitution. The referendum was initiated by the right-populist Pro Schweiz association, which argued that Switzerland has shifted too much towards the European Union and NATO.

According to initial projections, more than 70 percent of voters rejected the proposal. This outcome was confirmed after the polls closed, with the polling institute gfs.bern publishing the results on the social media platform X.

Had the proposal been adopted, Switzerland would no longer have been able to impose economic sanctions on countries like Russia. It would also mean that the country could not cooperate with or join military organizations such as NATO.

The referendum attracted significant attention, including from the Kremlin, which supported the proposal. The vote on the amendment to the principle of neutrality was followed with great interest by various parties, both nationally and internationally.

The outcome of the referendum is an important step in the Swiss political process, as the country continues to uphold its long-standing tradition of neutrality. With the rejection of the stricter rules, the current guidelines for neutrality remain in effect.

The ratio of votes among the electorate clearly indicates that the majority believes the current neutrality is sufficient. Alongside the overwhelming votes against the new definition, there were a few votes in favor, but these were far outnumbered.

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