Overview
- Voters overwhelmingly said no to the proposal on Sunday, with an early projection showing about 71% opposing the constitutional change that would have enshrined perpetual neutrality.
- The rejected amendment would have barred Switzerland from joining military alliances and limited sanctions to measures approved by the UN Security Council, a rule that would have made many international sanctions impossible because of vetoes by permanent members.
- Supporters led by the right-wing UDC argued the 2022 decision to join EU sanctions on Russia damaged Swiss neutrality, while the federal government and parliamentary opponents said existing law already allows pragmatic, moral responses.
- Foreign interest shaped the campaign: Switzerland previously froze roughly €7.4 billion in Russian-linked assets and Russia’s foreign ministry spokesperson publicly backed the stricter neutrality argument during the debate.
- A second referendum on boosting national food self-sufficiency was also on the ballot and was expected to fail, and officials will now confirm final vote totals and regional results in the coming hours.