Voters in Switzerland will decide in a referendum Sunday whether to enshrine a stricter definition of the country's centuries-old neutrality into the constitution. A “yes” vote would effectively prevent Switzerland from imposing sanctions on Russia unless they were approved by the United Nations Security Council, where Moscow has veto power. It would also bar Bern from cooperating militarily with an alliance like NATO unless Switzerland itself came under attack or faced an imminent threat.
Russia has openly backed the initiative. But the referendum reaches beyond the Alpine nation. It raises the question of how neutral a country can remain in the current European security landscape — where Russia is waging war against Ukraine and the continent's traditional reliance on U.S. security guarantees is under threat.
Other neutral nations such as Austria and Ireland are looking to increase defense spending and build closer ties with NATO. Under the current system, Switzerland's permanent neutrality is recognized in international law, but Bern retains discretion over how it applies its broader neutrality policy — and ultimately has the sovereign right to alter or abandon that status. While it is barred from taking part in wars between states or providing military support, the government can decide whether to impose economic sanctions or cooperate with military alliances without joining them.
The question of that referendum is whether people think that’s good or whether there should be stricter boundaries toward neutrality,” Wasserfallen said. That flexibility came under pressure after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Since February 2022, the Swiss government has largely mirrored the EU’s sanctions against Moscow, prompting a backlash among supporters of a stricter interpretation of neutrality.
The initiative grew out of that backlash. It was launched by Pro Schweiz, a national-conservative group closely associated with the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), with billionaire and former federal councilor Christoph Blocher a driving force behind the campaign. The Swiss government opposes the proposal, as do all major political parties except the SVP.
Polling this month has also shown nearly two-thirds of voters oppose it. POLITICO spoke to Swiss lawmakers and experts on both sides of the debate. They describe a referendum that puts Switzerland’s identity and standing in the world at stake, as well as the country’s appeal to business at a time of shifting opinions on security.
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