140,000 signatures: Neutrality initiative comes to fruition
Published: Wednesday, Mar 20th 2024, 05:00
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The neutrality initiative is going ahead: according to the president of the initiative committee, around 110,000 signatures have already been certified. "We will submit the initiative to the Federal Chancellery on April 11 at 2 p.m.," said Walter Wobmann.
A total of around 140,000 signatures have been collected for the popular initiative "Preserving Swiss neutrality (neutrality initiative)", Wobmann said in an interview with Blick published on Wednesday. "Perpetual neutrality is a model of peace for Switzerland, and people don't want to jeopardize that. For over 200 years, we were spared wars as a result," continued the former SVP National Councillor. Neutrality "only on a case-by-case basis" should be prevented.
The initiative demands, for example, that Switzerland does not join any military or defense alliance. Cooperation with such alliances is excluded in the event of a direct military attack on Switzerland. However, according to the committee, training with foreign partners would remain permissible and parliament could continue to approve peace support operations by the army.
No more Russia sanctions
Switzerland is to be prohibited from taking "non-military coercive measures" against belligerent states. It would no longer be allowed to participate in sanctions, nor would it be allowed to impose them itself. For example, Switzerland would not be allowed to adopt the EU's sanctions against Russia following the attack on Ukraine, according to the initiative.
However, Switzerland's obligations towards the UN remain excluded from the ban. Switzerland should also be allowed to take its own measures to prevent sanctions imposed by other states from being circumvented.
The initiators also want to enshrine in the constitution that Switzerland should use its permanent neutrality to prevent and resolve conflicts. It should be available as a mediator and maintain good relations with all states. The committee sees neutrality as a means for peace policy.
Federal Council opposes initiative
Today, the Federal Constitution stipulates that the Federal Council and Parliament must take measures to safeguard Switzerland's neutrality. The rights and duties of a neutral state are governed by the law of neutrality in accordance with the Hague Conventions of 1907, as the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs writes.
When launching the initiative, the Federal Council did not consider it appropriate to enshrine the core content of neutrality in the constitution or in legislation. This would restrict Switzerland's scope in terms of security and foreign policy. The current policy of neutrality was defined in 1993 and has been practiced ever since.
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