{"id":2166750,"date":"2026-09-27T16:59:05","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T13:59:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2166750"},"modified":"2026-09-27T16:59:05","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T13:59:05","slug":"how-neutral-should-switzerland-be-voters-deliver-decisive-verdict","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=2166750","title":{"rendered":"How neutral should Switzerland be? Voters deliver decisive verdict"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/96\/94\/1200x675_cmsv2_6cee72b8-ea3c-5fde-9a93-9ad2908d8fb0-9929694.jpg&#8221;]<\/p>\n<article id=\"abe-2929105-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2929105\" data-cid=\"9929826\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929105-label-pos1-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/98\/26\/189x106_cmsv2_ffd36db2-3b84-57ca-b8fa-2a5ca872da94-9929826.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man sleeps as protesters camp during a protest following the eviction last Wednesday of 87-year-old Maricarmen to demand stronger laws to protect renters.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929075-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2929075\" data-cid=\"9929712\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929075-label-pos2-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/97\/12\/189x106_cmsv2_2b27fa7c-c01f-5c52-965a-c03177415fa7-9929712.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Protesters block the Garvaghy road ahead of a Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge (LOL) No 1 march in the first parade for almost 30 years\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Northern Ireland: 2,000 protesters block disputed Portadown march\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929055-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1\" data-nid=\"2929055\" data-cid=\"9929734\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929055-label-pos3-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/96\/31\/189x106_cmsv2_308ccd92-1383-5456-87c7-bf27fcf41e9b-9929631.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The demonstration filled Puerta del Sol in Madrid.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    S\u00e1nchez vows housing decree amid outrage over Maricarmen eviction\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929013-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-1 m-modeDesktop-1 m-modeXL-1 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2929013\" data-cid=\"9929546\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929013-label-pos4-c-latest-stories\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/94\/67\/189x106_cmsv2_f0cfbc6c-7624-5e72-8fa0-a300004a7dbd-9929467.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV in Lourdes on Sunday 27 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Pope Leo XIV calls for Church to continue fight against sexual abuse\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929105-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2929105\" data-cid=\"9929826\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929105-label-pos1-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/98\/26\/189x106_cmsv2_ffd36db2-3b84-57ca-b8fa-2a5ca872da94-9929826.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"A man sleeps as protesters camp during a protest following the eviction last Wednesday of 87-year-old Maricarmen to demand stronger laws to protect renters.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929075-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2929075\" data-cid=\"9929712\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929075-label-pos2-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/97\/12\/189x106_cmsv2_2b27fa7c-c01f-5c52-965a-c03177415fa7-9929712.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Protesters block the Garvaghy road ahead of a Portadown District Loyal Orange Lodge (LOL) No 1 march in the first parade for almost 30 years\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    No Comment<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Northern Ireland: 2,000 protesters block disputed Portadown march\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929055-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2\" data-nid=\"2929055\" data-cid=\"9929734\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929055-label-pos3-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/96\/31\/189x106_cmsv2_308ccd92-1383-5456-87c7-bf27fcf41e9b-9929631.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"The demonstration filled Puerta del Sol in Madrid.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    S\u00e1nchez vows housing decree amid outrage over Maricarmen eviction\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2929013-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-2 m-modeDesktop-2 m-modeXL-2 the-media-object--has-video\" data-nid=\"2929013\" data-cid=\"9929546\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<figure id=\"abe-2929013-label-pos4-c-latest-stories-sidebar\" class=\"the-media-object__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"the-media-object__image\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/94\/67\/189x106_cmsv2_f0cfbc6c-7624-5e72-8fa0-a300004a7dbd-9929467.jpg\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"Pope Leo XIV in Lourdes on Sunday 27 September 2026.\" height=\"9\" width=\"16\"><\/figure>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n                    Europe News<\/p>\n<div class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Pope Leo XIV calls for Church to continue fight against sexual abuse\n  <\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article class=\"helper-site-row o-article-newsy\">\n<div class=\"helper-site-container o-article-newsy__container\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__main\">\n<header class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__header\">\n<nav aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs\">\n<div id=\"adb-article-breadcrumb\" class=\"c-article-breadcrumbs__list\">\n<p>                          Europe<\/p>\n<p>                          Europe News<\/p><\/div>\n<\/nav>\n<h1 class=\"c-article-redesign-title\">\n                            How neutral should Switzerland be? Voters deliver decisive verdict<\/h1>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-video u-position-relative \">\n<div class=\"js-superdiv u-aspect-ratio-16x9 u-position-relative \" data-controller=\"video-player\" data-sponsored=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"js-playercontrols u-height-full u-position-absolute u-width-full is-autoplaying\" data-translations=\"{&quot;error&quot;:&quot;This video could not be played.&quot;,&quot;geoblocked&quot;:&quot;Sorry, this content is not available in your country&quot;,&quot;slow&quot;:&quot;This is taking longer than usual&quot;}\">\n<div class=\"js-loadtrigger js-loadtrigger__button c-loadtrigger__button\" role=\"status\"><span class=\"js-loadtrigger__label c-loadtrigger__label u-visually-hidden\">Loading the video<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"js-poster-img c-article-media__img\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/96\/94\/1536x864_cmsv2_6cee72b8-ea3c-5fde-9a93-9ad2908d8fb0-9929694.jpg\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" loading=\"eager\" alt=\"Poster for the neutrality initiative in Switzerland, which failed this Sunday\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-caption u-position-absolute\"><i id=\"article-caption-content\" class=\"c-article-caption__content\"><span class=\"c-article-caption__text\"><br \/>\n              Poster for the neutrality initiative in Switzerland, which failed this Sunday<br \/>\n                    <span class=\"u-color-white\">&#8211;\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__copyright\">Copyright\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"c-article-caption__credit\">Jean-Christophe Bott\/Keystone via AP<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-image-copyright c-article-image-copyright--novideo\">\n      Copyright\u00a0Jean-Christophe Bott\/Keystone via AP\n  <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div class=\"h-grid o-article-newsy__main__body u-article-content\">\n<div class=\"o-article-newsy__contributors-publication-date\">\n<div class=\"c-article-contributors\">\n  By&amp;nbspKirsten Ripper&amp;nbsp&amp;&amp;nbspSonja Issel\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-publication-date\" data-timestamp=\"1790528345\">\n                    Published on                 <time datetime=\"2026-09-27 18:59:05 +02:00\">27\/09\/2026 &#8211; 18:59 GMT+2<\/time><span class=\"c-article-publication-date__bullet\">\u2022<\/span>Updated<br \/>\n                                     <time datetime=\"21:49\">21:49<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label 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class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"threads\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Threads<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-threads.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"threads\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"u-display-flex u-gap-1 u-show-for-mobile-only\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"24\" height=\"24\" alt=\"whatsapp\" loading=\"lazy\"><span>Whatsapp<\/span><\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/social-icons\/article-redesign-whatsapp.svg\" width=\"48\" height=\"48\" alt=\"whatsapp\" class=\"u-show-for-desktop\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed_container u-display-none\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed__tooltip\"><br \/>\n                            Copy\/paste the article video embed link below:<br \/>\n                        <\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed u-display-flex\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/vector\/icon-copy-to-clipboard.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"Copy to clipboard\" class=\"u-cursor-pointer js-c-article-share-comment-copy\" loading=\"lazy\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment-popup__content__embed--success-copied u-display-none js-c-article-share-comment-video-embed-success-link-copied\"><br \/>\n                                Copied<br \/>\n                            <\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"c-article-summary\">\n        Supporters of the proposal, led by the right-wing Swiss People&#8217;s Party (SVP), argued that Switzerland had moved too close to the European Union and NATO, particularly since Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<br \/>\n    <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-content js-article-content\">\n<p>Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to strengthen the country&#8217;s neutrality in a referendum on Sunday, with around 70% voting against the measure.<\/p>\n<div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-mobile-only\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-ad u-show-for-desktop\">\n<div class=\"c-ad__placeholder\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"c-ad__placeholder__logo\" src=\"https:\/\/static.euronews.com\/website\/images\/logos\/logo-euronews-stacked-outlined-72x72-grey-9.svg\" width=\"72\" height=\"72\" alt loading=\"lazy\"><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to final results published by the Swiss government, the proposal was rejected in all 26 Swiss cantons.<\/p>\n<p>The initiative would have restricted Switzerland&#8217;s ability to impose sanctions on other countries, allowing such measures only if they had been approved by the United Nations.<\/p>\n<p>That would have limited Switzerland&#8217;s ability to adopt sanctions against Russia, which holds veto power as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.<\/p>\n<p>Supporters of the proposal, led by the far right Swiss People&#8217;s Party (SVP), argued that Switzerland had moved too close to the European Union and NATO, particularly since Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;This result is not a vote against neutrality,&#8221; Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said at a press conference on Sunday as the referendum results were announced.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Switzerland was neutral yesterday, it will be neutral today and it will remain neutral,&#8221; he stressed.<\/p>\n<h2>A costly campaign ends in defeat<\/h2>\n<p>The initiative was championed by Christoph Blocher, the 85-year-old billionaire and influential figure within the SVP, with campaign posters promoting the so-called &#8220;neutrality initiative&#8221; carried the slogan &#8220;No to war&#8221;.<\/p>\n<p>Its defeat had been widely anticipated. According to Swiss media reports, the foreign ministry in Bern had privately forecast the outcome several weeks before the vote.<\/p>\n<p>Despite the expected result, Blocher invested heavily in the campaign.<\/p>\n<div class=\"widget widget--type-image widget--size-fullwidth widget--animation-fade-in widget--align-center\" data-ratio=\"0.7451171875\">\n<div class=\"widget__wrapper\">\n<div class=\"widget__ratio widget__ratio--auto\">\n<div class=\"widget__contents\">\n<figure class=\"widget__figure\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"widgetImage__image\" loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/96\/94\/808x603_cmsv2_91d62f04-e499-55aa-9c7c-906e7f0db15d-9929694.jpg\" alt=\"SVP veteran Christoph Blocher - archive image\"><figcaption class=\"widget__caption\"><span class=\"widget__captionWrap\"><span class=\"widget__captionText\">SVP veteran Christoph Blocher &#8211; archive image<\/span><span class=\"widget__captionCredit\">RONALD ZAK\/AP<\/span><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>According to Swiss newspaper Berner Zeitung, he spent 3.8 million Swiss francs on the initiative, reportedly the largest amount ever contributed by a single individual to a Swiss referendum campaign.<\/p>\n<p>The result prompted criticism from political opponents.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;The initiative would have set neutrality in stone and would no longer have allowed an adequate response to a given situation,&#8221; argued said Susanne Vincenz-Stauffacher, a member of the Swiss National Council, referring to Russia&#8217;s war against Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>She warned that defining neutrality in such rigid terms could prevent Switzerland from imposing sanctions on an aggressor.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;At the end of the day you are not neutral but on the aggressor&#8217;s side,&#8221; she said.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;Blocher has completely lost his way here,&#8221; said Marianne Binder, a Centre Party member of the Council of States representing Aargau.<\/p>\n<h2>What does neutrality mean for Switzerland?<\/h2>\n<p>Switzerland has maintained a longstanding policy of neutrality and is not a member of any military alliance.<\/p>\n<p>However, the interpretation of that neutrality has been the subject of political debate for years, particularly since Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine.<\/p>\n<p>The Swiss government currently advocates a policy of &#8220;cooperative neutrality&#8221;, under which the country remains militarily non-aligned while retaining the ability to impose sanctions when it considers them necessary to uphold international law.<\/p>\n<p>Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister has also called for closer cooperation with NATO.<\/p>\n<p>The rejected initiative sought to enshrine &#8220;perpetual and armed neutrality&#8221; in the Swiss constitution. It would also have restricted military cooperation with NATO to situations involving an imminent military attack.<\/p>\n<p>While Swiss voters rejected the proposed restrictions, support for neutrality itself remains widespread.<\/p>\n<p>According to the latest survey cited in the debate, 82% of respondents continue to support Switzerland&#8217;s neutrality.<\/p>\n<p>The referendum was part of Sunday&#8217;s nationwide round of votes on national and local issues.<\/p>\n<p>Under Switzerland&#8217;s system of direct democracy, citizens typically vote four times a year on proposed legislation, constitutional amendments and other policy questions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>                                  Go to accessibility shortcuts<\/p>\n<div class=\"c-article-share-comment u-align-items-center u-display-flex\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__links u-align-items-center u-display-flex u-justify-content-center js-c-article-share-comment-share\"><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Share<\/span><\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label\">Comments<\/span><span class=\"c-article-share-comment__label c-article-share-comment__label--always\">Add Euronews on Google<\/span><\/div>\n<div id=\"adb-article-you-might-also-like\" class=\"perf-cv-auto c-article-you-might-also-like\">\n<h2 class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__title\">\n        Read more<br \/>\n      <\/h2>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Switzerland intends to build military drone battalion by 2028, defence ministry says<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Swiss voters reject bid to cap population at 10 million, a move that would have limited immigration<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"c-article-you-might-also-like__item\">\n<h3>\n<p>                  Swiss voters set to vote on capping population at 10 million<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"perf-cv-auto\">\n<ul id=\"adb-article-tags\" class=\"c-tags-list\">\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Swiss politics<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Referendum<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Russia<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  Switzerland<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<li class=\"c-tags-list__item\">\n<section class=\"tc-cta\" data-twig-component=\"Cta-default\">\n  War in Ukraine<br \/>\n<\/section>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"tp-vuukle\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"c-vuukle-skeleton__header\"><span 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compete for the crown<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928759-pos4-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928759\" data-cid=\"9928738\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Trump rejects Iranian plan to reopen Strait of Hormuz<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<article id=\"abe-2928830-pos5-mostViewed\" class=\"the-media-object m-modeMobile-3 m-modeDesktop-3 m-modeXL-3 the-media-object--has-video the-media-object--no-label\" data-nid=\"2928830\" data-cid=\"9928844\" data-part-label=\"Partner content\">\n<div class=\"the-media-object__content\">\n<h3 class=\"the-media-object__title  \">\n<p>    Thousands take to the streets in Madrid over Ceuta migrant crisis<br \/>\n  <\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"articleBody\" data-key=\"articleBody\">Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal to strengthen the country&#8217;s neutrality in a referendum on Sunday, with around 70% voting against the measure.According to final results published by the Swiss government, the proposal was rejected in all 26 Swiss cantons.The initiative would have restricted Switzerland&#8217;s ability to impose sanctions on other countries, allowing such measures only if they had been approved by the United Nations.That would have limited Switzerland&#8217;s ability to adopt sanctions against Russia, which holds veto power as one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.Supporters of the proposal, led by the far right Swiss People&#8217;s Party (SVP), argued that Switzerland had moved too close to the European Union and NATO, particularly since Russia&#8217;s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.&#8221;This result is not a vote against neutrality,&#8221; Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis said at a press conference on Sunday as the referendum results were announced.&#8221;Switzerland was neutral yesterday, it will be neutral today and it will remain neutral,&#8221; he stressed.A costly campaign ends in defeatThe initiative was championed by Christoph Blocher, the 85-year-old billionaire and influential figure within the SVP, with campaign posters promoting the so-called &#8220;neutrality initiative&#8221; carried the slogan &#8220;No to war&#8221;.Its defeat had been widely anticipated. According to Swiss media reports, the foreign ministry in Bern had privately forecast the outcome several weeks before the vote.Despite the expected result, Blocher invested heavily in the campaign.According to Swiss newspaper Berner Zeitung, he spent 3.8 million Swiss francs on the initiative, reportedly the largest amount ever contributed by a single individual to a Swiss referendum campaign.The result prompted criticism from political opponents.&#8221;The initiative would have set neutrality in stone and would no longer have allowed an adequate response to a given situation,&#8221; argued said Susanne Vincenz-Stauffacher, a member of the Swiss National Council, referring to Russia&#8217;s war against Ukraine.She warned that defining neutrality in such rigid terms could prevent Switzerland from imposing sanctions on an aggressor.&#8221;At the end of the day you are not neutral but on the aggressor&#8217;s side,&#8221; she said.&#8221;Blocher has completely lost his way here,&#8221; said Marianne Binder, a Centre Party member of the Council of States representing Aargau.What does neutrality mean for Switzerland?Switzerland has maintained a longstanding policy of neutrality and is not a member of any military alliance.However, the interpretation of that neutrality has been the subject of political debate for years, particularly since Russia&#8217;s invasion of Ukraine.The Swiss government currently advocates a policy of &#8220;cooperative neutrality&#8221;, under which the country remains militarily non-aligned while retaining the ability to impose sanctions when it considers them necessary to uphold international law.Swiss Defence Minister Martin Pfister has also called for closer cooperation with NATO.The rejected initiative sought to enshrine &#8220;perpetual and armed neutrality&#8221; in the Swiss constitution. It would also have restricted military cooperation with NATO to situations involving an imminent military attack.While Swiss voters rejected the proposed restrictions, support for neutrality itself remains widespread.According to the latest survey cited in the debate, 82% of respondents continue to support Switzerland&#8217;s neutrality.The referendum was part of Sunday&#8217;s nationwide round of votes on national and local issues.Under Switzerland&#8217;s system of direct democracy, citizens typically vote four times a year on proposed legislation, constitutional amendments and other policy questions.<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;https:\/\/www.euronews.com\/2026\/09\/27\/how-neutral-should-switzerland-be-voters-deliver-decisive-verdict&#8221;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/images.euronews.com\/articles\/stories\/09\/92\/96\/94\/1200x675_cmsv2_6cee72b8-ea3c-5fde-9a93-9ad2908d8fb0-9929694.jpg&#8221;] No Comment Watch: mass Madrid protests over Maricarmen eviction and housing crisis No Comment Northern Ireland: 2,000 protesters block disputed Portadown march Europe News S\u00e1nchez vows housing decree amid outrage over Maricarmen eviction Europe News Pope Leo XIV calls for Church to continue fight against sexual abuse No Comment Watch: mass Madrid [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[90],"tags":[226,36],"class_list":["post-2166750","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-international","tag-crawlmanager","tag-euronews-com"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166750","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2166750"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166750\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2166750"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2166750"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2166750"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}