70% Swiss say no: Switzerland rejects push for tighter neutrality amid Russia war

An electoral poster reads “No war, Yes to Swiss neutrality” is posted along a road in Epagny, Switzerland (AP) Switzerland has voted against a proposal aimed at tightening the country's long-standing policy of neutrality, with 70 per cent of voters rejecting the measure in a nationwide referendum on Sunday.The proposal was backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, whose supporters argued that Switzerland had moved too close to the European Union and Nato, particularly because of its response to Russia’s war in Ukraine.The measure was rejected by majorities in all 26 Swiss regions, according to final results released by the Swiss government.What the proposal sought to changeThe initiative would have restricted Switzerland from joining sanctions against other countries unless those measures had been imposed by the United Nations.That would have significantly affected Switzerland’s ability to impose sanctions independently. Russia, one of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, has veto power over decisions by the council.The proposal also sought to limit Switzerland’s cooperation with military alliances. Switzerland is not a member of NATO, but it has worked with ...