Swiss may reject strict neutrality and strengthen the possibility of sanctions against Russia - poll
Kyiv • UNN
Only 34% of Swiss voters are ready to support the initiative to enshrine permanent neutrality in the constitution. 54% of respondents are against it, which could limit the country's ability to join sanctions against Russia.
Most Swiss voters currently do not support the initiative to enshrine permanent neutrality in the country's constitution ahead of a referendum scheduled for September 27. This is evidenced by the results of a Tamedia/20 Minuten poll, reports Bloomberg, writes UNN.
Details
According to the study, only 34% of respondents are ready to support the proposed changes, while 54% said they would vote against.
The initiative is being promoted by a group backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). It was put forward after Switzerland joined EU sanctions against Russia in 2022 over its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
Sanctions have become a subject of controversy
The proposal envisions enshrining permanent neutrality in the constitution and banning economic measures against states that are at war. If approved, Switzerland's ability to join international sanctions could be limited.
At the same time, the government and parliament oppose this initiative, insisting on maintaining the current approach, which allows the country to respond flexibly to international events. The poll also showed that the proposal is supported mainly by SVP voters, while supporters of other major parties mostly oppose it.