--- description: An initiative to enshrine neutrality in the Swiss constitution garnered enough signatures to get a vote as debate over the policy has sharpened in recent years. title: Switzerland to Vote on Country’s Neutrality Policy image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt13336a5978b9b44c/698a55a3b21a9c8e6a509e09/Switzerland-Neutrality-Referendum.jpg?branch=production&width=2400&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [World](/section/world/) ## World Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close * [Switzerland](/tag/switzerland/) ## Switzerland Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # The People of Switzerland Will Get to Vote on Their Country’s Famous ‘Neutrality’ by [Koh Ewe](/author/koh-ewe/) ## Koh Ewe Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Koh Ewe (Koyu) was a reporter for TIME based in Singapore. Apr 12, 2024 8:15 AM CUT  Swiss flag at Geneva Lake in Geneva, Switzerland, on Dec. 31, 2018. Swiss flag at Geneva Lake in Geneva, Switzerland, on Dec. 31, 2018.Athanasios Gioumpasis—Getty Images by [Koh Ewe](/author/koh-ewe/) ## Koh Ewe Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Koh Ewe (Koyu) was a reporter for TIME based in Singapore. Apr 12, 2024 8:15 AM CUT Armed with some 130,000 certified signatures, Swiss activists submitted a petition in Bern on Thursday that would pave the way for a national vote in the coming months on proposed constitutional amendments to enshrine Switzerland’s [longstanding policy of neutrality](https://time.com/3695334/switzerland-neutrality-history/ "undefined") in international affairs. An initiative needs 100,000 signatures to get on the ballot. Debate about Switzerland’s neutrality sharpened last year after authorities followed in the European Union’s footsteps to adopt [increasing sanctions](https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/switzerland-in-no-rush-to-mirror-eu-sanctions-against-china/48852974 "undefined") on Russia for its invasion of Ukraine—bucking a centuries-long tradition of not taking sides in global conflicts. In 2022, a top Swiss official also [warned](https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/swiss-set-match-eu-sanctions-if-china-invades-taiwan-agency-chief-2022-07-30/ "undefined") that the country would impose punitive measures should China invade Taiwan, though Switzerland [did not join](https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/politics/switzerland-in-no-rush-to-mirror-eu-sanctions-against-china/48852974 "undefined") subsequent E.U. sanctions against China. A [2023 survey](https://css.ethz.ch/en/center/CSS-news/2023/03/studie-sicherheit-2023-bericht-zur-medienkonferenz-vom-16-maerz-2023.html "undefined") of Swiss voters found 91% of respondents approved of neutrality in general, though 75% believed sanctions against Russia were compatible with the principle. **Read More:** [_The Architect of Swiss Neutrality Thinks It’s Time for His Country to Take Sides_](https://time.com/6282335/ending-switzerland-neutrality-thomas-borer-interview/ "undefined") The [initiative](https://www.bk.admin.ch/ch/d/pore/vi/vis540t.html "undefined"), introduced by advocacy group [Pro Switzerland](https://proschweiz.ch/neutralitaetsinitiative/ "undefined") calls for Switzerland to avoid entering any military alliance unless it is attacked as well as to not impose “any non-military coercive measures” unless obligated by the United Nations. The amendment would also enshrine that “Switzerland uses its perpetual neutrality to prevent and resolve conflicts and is available as a mediator.” The conservative Swiss People’s Party (SVP) backs the initiative, saying in a [press release](https://www.svp.ch/aktuell/publikationen/medienmitteilungen/neutrale-notbremse-ziehen-fuer-sicherheit-und-frieden/ "undefined") on Thursday: “The gradual dissolution of neutrality is a threat to Switzerland’s internal and external security.” Critics [argue](https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/swiss-politics/neutrality-initiative-submitted-with-almost-133000-signatures/75539252 "undefined") the neutrality initiative would isolate Switzerland by destabilizing its relations with its partners, and the Federal Council that serves as head of state and government in Switzerland [opposed](https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-affairs/swiss-neutrality-initiative-passes-100000-signature-hurdle/73961433 "undefined") the initiative when it was introduced, saying that it would restrict Switzerland’s ability to maneuver on foreign policy and security. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/6966223/switzerland-neutrality-initiative-vote/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/6966223/switzerland-neutrality-initiative-vote/"},"headline":"The People of Switzerland Will Get to Vote on Their Country’s Famous ‘Neutrality’","datePublished":"2024-04-12T08:15:00.000Z","dateModified":"2026-02-24T17:27:11.826Z","description":"An initiative to enshrine neutrality in the Swiss constitution garnered enough signatures to get a vote as debate over the policy has sharpened in recent years.","url":"https://time.com/6966223/switzerland-neutrality-initiative-vote/","keywords":["Switzerland","overnight","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt13336a5978b9b44c/698a55a3b21a9c8e6a509e09/Switzerland-Neutrality-Referendum.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Koh Ewe","jobTitle":"Koh Ewe (Koyu) was a reporter for TIME based in Singapore.","url":"https://time.com/author/koh-ewe/"}],"articleSection":"World","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt13336a5978b9b44c/698a55a3b21a9c8e6a509e09/Switzerland-Neutrality-Referendum.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"Switzerland Referendum Neutrality","caption":"Swiss flag at Geneva Lake","creditText":"Athanasios Gioumpasis—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/world/","name":"World"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/switzerland/","name":"Switzerland"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/6966223/switzerland-neutrality-initiative-vote/","name":"The People of Switzerland Will Get to Vote on Their Country’s Famous ‘Neutrality’"}}]}] ```