Early projections show Swiss voters rejecting a stricter application of the country’s vaunted neutrality. Swiss neutrality has been enshrined in the constitution since 1848.
Voters in Switzerland look set to reject a proposal for stricter neutrality in a referendum held on Sunday, according to projections by state broadcaster SRF.
According to SRF figures, 29% voted for tighter rules on neutrality while 71% voted against adopting stricter measures.
Although Swiss neutrality has been recognized since the end of the Napoleonic wars in 1815 and part of the country’s constitution since 1848, exactly how the government implements it is not clearly specified.
The initiative was brought forward by the Pro Schweiz association, a right-wing organization with links to the right-wing populist Swiss People’s Party. They argue that the Swiss government has moved too close to the European Union and NATO since Russia’s war in Ukraine.
It’s really about Swiss history of being a center for money laundering for odious regimes and organizations under the guise of “neutrality”.
Most recently Russian money, so no surprise that some far right group is up and arms about any restrictions on that, since they’re backed by aforementioned Russian money.
The Swiss have been trying to shed that reputation for decades, so a “Swiss bank account” isn’t the financial shelter from law enforcement that it used to be, but the reputation lingers on.
so no surprise that some far right group is up and arms about any restrictions on that,
You got that wrong. They launched the initiative, while fearmongering about getting too close to EU. It was refused by 70% of voters.
I said that the far right groups are against restrictions on Russian money, which would be allowed in the “stricter view of neutrality” according to the initiative.
Thanks, Ed Sheeran.
Yay!
