Swiss voters reject stricter neutrality

More than seventy percent of Swiss voters rejected proposals that would have prevented the country from imposing sanctions without UN approval.

The proposals would have blocked NATO ties

The rejected initiative would also have prevented Switzerland from pursuing closer ties with the NATO military alliance.

Russia backed the stricter rules

Russia openly backed the initiative, which was supported by the right-wing Swiss People's Party and opposed by the federal government and all other major parties.

Voters favour sanctions against Russia

Lukas Golder, co-director of research institute Gfs.bern, said the vote showed Switzerland was in favour of sanctions against Russia.

“People have a clear idea of what Switzerland's neutrality is supposed to achieve.”

Neutrality means flexibility, not indifference

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said neutrality has always been applied with flexibility and that neutrality does not mean indifference to violations of international rules.

“neutrality has always been applied with a degree of flexibility”

Switzerland maintains arms embargo

Switzerland has no plans to lift its ban on selling arms to countries in conflict, including Ukraine, despite rejecting the stricter neutrality rules.