Heads Up: Neutrality Initiative
Sunday, September 27, 2026 Switzerland voted NO to stricter neutrality. In the referendum on the “Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality” initiative, around 70% of voters and all 26 cantons rejected it.
What was proposed: The initiative from Pro Switzerland and backed by the right-wing SVP wanted to write into the constitution that neutrality is “perpetual and armed”, that Switzerland could not join or cooperate with military alliances like NATO except in case of direct attack, and could not impose sanctions unless mandated by the UN.
It came as a reaction to Bern mirroring EU sanctions against Russia after the 2022 invasion of Ukraine - supporters said that violated neutrality, a view also echoed by Moscow. What the NO means: Switzerland remains neutral, as it has been since 1815 / in the constitution since 1848, and keeps flexibility to interpret it. Government can continue to impose EU sanctions on Russia and cooperate with NATO. As Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said today:
“Switzerland was neutral yesterday, it will be neutral today and it will remain neutral” - the result is not a vote against neutrality itself. The government, parliament and all major parties except the SVP had recommended voting No.