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Switzerland’s neutrality could be put to a referendum
The Swiss will have to vote on their neutrality, given that the war in Ukraine has reopened the debate in this Alpine country regarding the degree of cooperation with NATO and the taking over of European sanctions.
Swiss flag is pictured at the Harbour in Geneva, Switzerland, March 13, 2024. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse
The sovereigntist organization Pro Schweiz has already collected over 100,000 signatures, necessary for launching a referendum aimed at better anchoring Swiss neutrality in the Constitution, one of the leaders of this organization, Walter Wobmann, announced on Wednesday.
“We collected almost 140,000 signatures (…). On April 11, we will submit the initiative to the Federal Chancellery. Until then, we will continue to collect signatures,” he added.
Switzerland imposed sanctions on Russia due to war in Ukraine
Misunderstood abroad, Swiss neutrality has caused numerous debates since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, with each political party interpreting it in its own way. Switzerland – which is not part of the European Union – has been adamant about its military neutrality, but instead adopted the sanctions imposed against Russia by Brussels, a decision strongly denounced by Switzerland’s first party, the UDC, a radical right wing.
Moscow criticized Switzerland’s adoption of European sanctions and has since refused to allow UN negotiations on Syria to take place in Geneva, Switzerland.
“By adopting EU sanctions against Russia, we blocked our way. In the eyes of the Russians, we are no longer neutral”, emphasized Wobmann, former UDC deputy, in the interview. The Swiss federal constitution stipulates that Parliament and the government must “maintain neutrality”, but Pro Schweiz wants to go beyond this. His referendum project – called in Switzerland a “popular initiative” – demands that the text of the Constitution guarantee that neutrality is “armed and perpetual” and applied “permanently and without exception”. Non-military coercive measures, such as sanctions, would also be prohibited, except when decided by the UN.
Pro Schweiz wants also to prohibit the country joining any military alliance
Pro Schweiz, which also opposes any approach to NATO, wants the text of the Constitution to prohibit Switzerland from joining any military or defence alliance, except in the case of a direct military attack against the country. “Only if we are attacked directly can we ally with others. If we are transformed into a war party, we have to defend ourselves”, emphasized Wobmann.
After the signatures are submitted and then verified by the Chancery, it usually takes several months and even years before the vote takes place.
