An initiative, dubbed the Neutrality Initiative, aimed at adding the principle of permanent armed neutrality to Switzerland’s constitution faced a further set back this week. The wording also includes a far-reaching ban on sanctions, one of the triggers for the initiative – Switzerland has followed the EU in sanctioning Russia.
The Foreign Affairs Committee of the Council of States soundly rejected the neutrality initiative, reported SRF. The decision to reject the popular initiative was passed by nine votes to three with one abstention.
A motion for a direct counter-proposal, an alternative which would be included on the voting ballot, was also rejected by a narrow margin of seven to six.
By rejecting the neutrality initiative, the Committee has followed the Federal Council’s recommendation to Parliament. The Council of States’ Security Policy Committee also resoundingly rejected the popular initiative in mid-February.
The initiative “Preservation of Swiss Neutrality (Neutrality Initiative)”, submitted by Pro Switzerland and Swiss People’s Party (UDC/SVP) representatives, calls for permanent, armed neutrality and a far-reaching ban on sanctions to be written into the constitution.
More on this:
SRF article (in German)
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