🇨🇭🗳 Swiss voters reject tighter neutrality rules that would have curbed NATO cooperation
All cantons and about 70% of voters rejected the proposal for a strictly defined version of neutrality to be written into the Swiss constitution, final results from the Federal Statistical Office showed.
While Swiss neutrality has been internationally recognised since the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815, how the government implements it is not spelled out.
The right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) has said that Switzerland's traditional position has been eroded after Bern imposed sanctions on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
The campaign had funded posters across the country urging people to vote "No war, yes to neutrality", featuring white peace doves, ahead of the vote.
Apart from the SVP, most parties and the Swiss government opposed the proposal, with Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis saying it would harm national security and prevent Switzerland from training with NATO.
The Green Party and the smaller Evangelical People's Party (EVP) expressed relief over Sunday's projections.
🔗 https://www.reuters.com/world/swiss-vote-tightening-neutrality-rules-ending-peacetime-cooperation-with-nato-2026-09-27/
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