Switzerland rejects stricter interpretation of its neutrality
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to strictly codify the country's neutrality, which would have required UN approval for sanctions and limited ties with NATO. The result confirms Switzerland's continued flexibility in applying neutrality, particularly regarding sanctions against Russia.
Why it matters
The vote clarifies Switzerland's foreign policy stance in the wake of the Ukraine war, balancing historical neutrality with modern geopolitical alignment.
Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Russia openly backed the initiative, which would have required Switzerland to seek UN approval for sanctions
Voters in Switzerland have overwhelmingly rejected a stricter interpretation of the country's tradition of diplomatic neutrality.
More than 70% of Swiss voters rejected proposals that would have prevented the European nation from imposing sanctions without UN approval, official results showed.
The move would have also prevented Switzerland from pursuing closer ties with the Nato military alliance.
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine has reopened the debate around Switzerland's centuries-old non-alignment.
Moscow openly backed the initiative, which was supported by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) and opposed by the federal government and all other major parties.
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