Government of Switzerland has rejected the neutrality initiative by the Pro Switzerland group and right-wing supporters from the Swiss People’s Party.
The Swiss Federal Council has not proposed a counterproposal and transmitted its message to parliament to debate the issue. Supporters of “Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality” initiative call for perpetual and armed neutrality to be enshrined in the country’s constitution. They also demand that Switzerland should not join any military alliance.
The document also dictates that Switzerland should not take part in foreign wars or impose economic or diplomatic sanctions against a belligerent state, subject to its obligations to the United Nations. Finally, Bern must make use of its neutral status in the context of its good offices.
However, according to the government, defining Swiss neutrality more strictly is not necessary.
The Federal Council is convinced of the importance of neutrality for Switzerland. As part of the Swiss identity, it is an important instrument of Swiss foreign, security and economic policy, Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis told reporters in Bern on Wednesday. But parliament believes that adopting a tighter definition of Switzerland's neutrality, would put the country's options in a straightjacket.
Read next
06:15
U.S. President Donald Trump announced on Sunday that his upcoming reciprocal tariffs will apply to all nations, rather than just targeting the 10 to 15 countries with the largest trade imbalances. Trump plans to unveil the tariff package on Wednesday, calling it “Liberation Day.”
05:25
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is attempting to back out of a critical minerals deal, warning that such a move would bring serious repercussions.
05:08
Bangladesh’s main opposition party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), has warned of public unrest if elections are not held by December, following remarks from interim leader Muhammad Yunus suggesting a possible delay until 2026.
05:00
Over 300,000 Canadians were left without power on Sunday as a severe ice storm battered parts of Ontario, according to electricity provider Hydro One. The storm brought freezing rain and ice pellets over the weekend, with power outages continuing into Monday morning in some regions.
04:42
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen is awaiting a critical court ruling on Monday that could determine her political future. Le Pen, head of the National Rally (RN), faces accusations of embezzling over 3 million euros ($3.3 million) of European Parliament funds to pay France-based staff.