Swiss voters have rejected an initiative that aimed to reinforce the nation’s neutrality, with more than 70% voting "no" on Sunday, September 27, 2026, according to final results from the Federal Statistical Office. The proposal, backed by the far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP), sought to embed a stricter version of neutrality into the federal constitution. This would have required Switzerland to avoid joining military alliances and to refrain from imposing sanctions on warring states unless mandated by the United Nations. Opponents of the initiative described it as pro-Russian and aligned with nationalist right-wing policies. The motion was promoted by the SVP and its billionaire supporter, Christoph Blocher, who was reported to have spent 2 million Swiss francs on the campaign. The Swiss government and most political parties opposed the measure, arguing that it would weaken the country’s security and limit its ability to work with NATO. Although not a NATO member, Switzerland has cooperated with the transatlantic military alliance for 30 years. Critics of current government policy claimed that Switzerland's neutrality had been weakened by its decision to align with EU sanctions against Russia after the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Opponents of the initiative welcomed the results, stating that voters recognized the SVP's intent to isolate Switzerland internationally and avoid responsibilities when international law is being ignored. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis emphasized that neutrality has always been applied with a degree of flexibility, stating that "being neutral does not mean being indifferent or standing aside." He added that Switzerland would "not look away when we see violations of the very international rules that allow us to live in peace." Analysts noted that the result reflected public satisfaction with how the government interprets Swiss neutrality, with voters accepting that neutrality can evolve and adapt to geopolitical changes. Russia's foreign ministry praised the initiative but criticized Switzerland's adoption of EU sanctions, claiming the country was abandoning neutrality. The SVP accepted the defeat and said it had no current plans for further action. Switzerland's neutrality has been enshrined in the federal constitution since 1848, rooted in Swiss history for several centuries. The country was internationally recognized in 1815 when it was granted "eternal neutrality" at the Congress of Vienna. The Hague Convention of 1907 legally defined this neutrality, forbidding Switzerland from supplying weapons to countries at war.