Parliament has voted against the move, but the issue is unlikely to go away.
Keystone / Anthony Anex
In a final vote on Friday, the Swiss parliament rejected a proposal that would have allowed Switzerland to unilaterally sanction countries and individuals.
This content was published on
1 minute
Keystone-SDA/jc
Русский
ru
Парламент Швейцарии отклонил односторонние санкции
The House of Representatives rejected it by 118 votes to 70 on the last day of parliament’s autumn session, although it was approved by the Senate the same day. Previously it seemed that parliament had largely agreed to the move, provided Swiss companies were not disadvantaged.
Only the centrist parties voted in favour in the lower house. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party has consistently opposed such a move, saying that it would damage Switzerland’s neutrality. Left-wing and Green parties wanted to go further down the road of autonomous sanctions against individuals and entities involved in atrocities.
At present, the Swiss government can only opt to follow sanctions already imposed by the United Nations, the European Union or the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OCSE). The government had recommended keeping the current status quo on sanctions, saying that a change in policy could further expose Switzerland to counter-measures by other countries.
After some initial hesitation, Switzerland has followed EU sanctions against Russian entities and individuals over the war in Ukraine.
Swiss foreign minister praises improved relations with Italy
This content was published on
Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis expressed his satisfaction on Tuesday with the good relations that Switzerland has developed with Italy.
Boating and swimming to be banned on part of River Aare in Bern
This content was published on
From September, the city and canton of Bern will be carrying out extensive construction work on the River Aare to protect against flooding and to renovate the Marzili outdoor pool.
Moutier: foreigners familiarise themselves with right to vote
This content was published on
From 2026, Moutier will be part of the Swiss canton of Jura, gaining more than 1,000 new voters. On Monday around 50 people were informed about their new rights.
Switzerland ‘more than ready’ to host Ukraine summit
This content was published on
Switzerland is more than ready to host a summit between Russia and Ukraine, says Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, highlighting Switzerland's expertise in this area.
This content was published on
Every second aircraft at Zurich Airport took off late this summer. However, the situation has already improved significantly compared to last year.
Swiss union federation demands average wage increase of 2%
This content was published on
The employees' umbrella organisation Travailsuisse is demanding an average wage increase of two percent for all employees in the coming year. This would cover the rising cost of living and make up for wage shortfalls in recent years.
‘Dr Pump’ sentenced for administering unauthorised substances
This content was published on
A Bern Regional Court has found the Solothurn doctor known as "Dr Pump" guilty of offences against the Sports Promotion Law. The man had administered unauthorised substances to patients.
This content was published on
Volunteering can have a positive effect on mental health. According to a survey conducted in Switzerland, Germany and Austria, people who volunteer for others also strengthen themselves.
This content was published on
Twint is being used more and more frequently to make purchases at the till or transfer money to friends using a smartphone. By the middle of the year, the payment app already had more than six million users in Switzerland.
This content was published on
The meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian President Vladimir Putin should take place in Europe, according to French President Emmanuel Macron. He is calling for it to be held in Geneva.
Switzerland takes over EU sanctions on Russian gold
This content was published on
Switzerland, a major gold-refining hub, has followed the EU in banning Russian gold as part of new sanctions due to the war in Ukraine.
Swiss tighten Russia sanctions and increase support for refugees
This content was published on
The Swiss government has adopted a new set of EU trade and finance sanctions against Russia and Belarus over the war in Ukraine.
Switzerland listed as ‘unfriendly’ country by Russia
This content was published on
Moscow published the list on Monday after being hit by Western financial sanctions. All corporate deals with companies and individuals from the so-called “unfriendly countries” now have to be approved by a government commission, according to Reuters. The list follows a presidential decree on March 5 allowing the Russian government, companies and citizens to temporarily…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.