Swiss Set to Reject Stricter Neutrality Rules, Final Polls Show

(Bloomberg) — Swiss voters are set to reject a proposal to tighten the country’s neutrality this month, preserving the government’s freedom to interpret the doctrine flexibly.

Two final polls ahead of a Sept. 27 plebiscite showed clear majorities against a right-wing initiative intended to enshrine a strict stance in the constitution. The campaign was sparked by Switzerland’s 2022 decision to mirror European Union sanctions against Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a move that some say undermined neutrality.

In the surveys released Wednesday, public broadcaster SRG SSR found that 63% of voters are opposed to the change, while newspaper group Tamedia/20 Minuten put rejection at 68%.

The initiative, put forward under the country’s system of direct democracy, would bar Switzerland from imposing sanctions unless the United Nations approve them. Russia has tried to influence the vote, saying that by applying sanctions, the Swiss effectively abandoned neutrality.

The right-wing Swiss People’s Party, Switzerland’s largest parliamentary group, is the only major political force supporting the constitutional change. The government and parliament oppose the idea, arguing that a pragmatic approach serves the country better. However, neutrality remains deeply rooted in Swiss identity, and there is no significant support for abandoning the doctrine entirely.

Neutrality isn’t the only plebiscite on the ballot this month, with citizens also set to decide on a proposal that asks if more food should be domestically produced. That initiative also looks likely to fail, with both polls suggesting rejection by around two thirds of voters.

–With assistance from Craig Stirling.

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