Swiss voters decided this Sunday in a referendum not to accept an initiative that would have meant further shielding the neutrality enshrined in the 1848 constitution, which could have called into question, for example, the current sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

As polls had already predicted, the “no” to the initiative, which had been presented by the conservative nationalist organization Pro Suiza, won by a clear 69.73% of the votes, according to provisional data with 24 of the 26 cantons of the country already scrutinized.

Both the Government and Parliament had recommended citizens vote against the proposal, despite it having the support of the conservative Democratic Union of the Centre (UDC), which is part of the ruling coalition and is the party with the most representation in the Legislature, without being a majority.

Pro Suiza intended with its initiative for the Federal Constitution to expressly include “perpetual and armed” neutrality, and for there to be mechanisms to prevent the country from joining military alliances such as NATO, as well as cooperating with them, except in the case of a direct military attack.

Furthermore, the project stipulated that Switzerland should not impose sanctions against a country in conflict, except those imposed by the United Nations.

In the opinion of the Executive and Legislative powers, the neutrality already enshrined in the Constitution for more than a century and a half has proven its effectiveness and offers a certain “room for maneuver” in a changing world today that would be limited if the “yes” had triumphed.

Since 2022, Switzerland, in parallel with the European Union, has imposed fund blockades, entry bans into the country, and other sanctions against 2,790 Russian individuals and entities after the Russian military operations in Ukraine.

These sanctions have led the Russian government to accuse Switzerland of having lost its status as a neutral actor, as well as to reject the Central European country as a mediator in the conflict or as a venue for important peace negotiations.

Surrounded by great European powers, and having become a “buffer” state between them for centuries, Switzerland has managed not to get involved in the conflicts of the Old Continent practically since the beginning of the 16th century, including the world wars of the 20th century.

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