Switzerland Voters Reject Stricter Neutrality Interpretation

Voters in Switzerland have rejected a proposal for a stricter interpretation of the country's tradition of diplomatic neutrality, with more than 70% voting against it, according to official results. The rejected initiative would have required Switzerland to seek United Nations approval before imposing sanctions and would have limited the country's ability to pursue closer ties with NATO. Russia openly supported the initiative, which was backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) and opposed by the federal government and all major political parties. Lukas Golder, co-director of the research institute Gfs.bern, stated that the vote indicated Swiss voters support sanctions against Russia rather than a rejection of neutrality itself. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis noted that neutrality has always been applied with some flexibility, emphasizing that it does not equate to indifference. Switzerland's neutrality was internationally recognized in 1815 and legally defined by the Hague Convention of 1907, which prohibits supplying weapons to countries at war. The country maintained its neutrality during World War Two and has previously faced criticism for its actions during that period. Switzerland's system of direct democracy allows major political decisions to be made through referenda.