¶ The Initiative Text (Art. 54a FC)
¶ Result of the vote on 27 September 2026
The Neutrality Initiative was rejected on 27 September 2026 by 70.15% No to 29.85% Yes. All 26 cantons rejected it; the cantonal vote was 0 to 23.
Provisional official final result · Data as of 27 September 2026, 16:12 (Europe/Zurich).
| Result | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | 789’130 | 29.85% |
| No | 1’854’767 | 70.15% |
Turnout: 47.06%.
The proposed Article 54a will therefore not be added to the Federal Constitution. The background and arguments below document the debate before the vote.
Summary: The Neutrality Initiative seeks to insert a new Art. 54a into the Federal Constitution. This article would elevate neutrality from its current status as a "task" to an independent constitutional principle -- with far-reaching consequences for foreign and security policy.
¶ 1. Full Wording
The initiative text as per the Federal Chancellery [1]:
Art. 54a Swiss Neutrality
1 Switzerland is neutral. Its neutrality is permanent and armed.
2 Switzerland shall not join any military or defence alliance. Cooperation with such alliances in the event of a direct military attack on Switzerland or in the event of actions in preparation for such an attack is reserved.
3 Switzerland shall not participate in military conflicts between third states and shall not take non-military coercive measures against belligerent states. Obligations towards the United Nations (UN) and measures to prevent the circumvention of non-military coercive measures by other states are reserved.
4 Switzerland shall use its permanent neutrality to prevent and resolve conflicts and shall make itself available as a mediator.
¶ 2. Explanation of Individual Paragraphs
¶ Paragraph 1: Permanent, Armed Neutrality
- Enshrines neutrality as a constitutional principle (no longer merely a "task")
- "Permanent" means: no time limitation, no situational adaptation
- "Armed" means: national defence through own army
¶ Paragraph 2: Alliance Ban
- Prohibits accession to NATO or similar alliances
- Sole exception: direct military attack on Switzerland or preparation thereof
- Potentially also affects deepened PfP cooperation
¶ Paragraph 3: Sanctions Ban
- Prohibits non-military coercive measures (e.g. economic sanctions) against belligerent states
- Two reservations: (a) UN Security Council resolutions, (b) anti-circumvention measures
- Consequence: EU sanctions against Russia (since 2022) would no longer be possible
- This is the most controversial part of the initiative
¶ Paragraph 4: Mediation Obligation
- Obliges Switzerland to actively engage in conflict prevention and mediation
- Today, "Good Offices" are a political tradition but not a constitutional obligation
¶ 3. Comparison Table: Today vs. After Acceptance
| Aspect | Today | After Acceptance |
|---|---|---|
| Constitutional rank | Neutrality as "task" (Art. 173/185 FC) | Independent principle (Art. 54a FC) |
| Definition | Not further defined | "Permanent and armed" |
| Military alliances | No prohibition in FC (PfP member since 1996) | Explicit prohibition (exception: attack on CH) |
| Sanctions | Bundesrat decides situationally | Prohibited (exception: UN, anti-circumvention) |
| Mediation | Political tradition, no obligation | Constitutional obligation |
| Room for manoeuvre | Flexible, Bundesrat interprets | Restricted by Constitution |
¶ 4. Legal Classification
Mark E. Villiger, former ECHR judge, analysed the initiative [2]:
- The constitutional anchoring would considerably restrict the room for manoeuvre of the Bundesrat and Parliament.
- The attribute "permanent" precludes any situational adaptation.
- The sanctions ban goes beyond the existing law of neutrality (Hague Conventions).
For a detailed analysis of the four core demands, see The Four Pillars of the Initiative.
¶ References
[1] Federal Chancellery (2024). Federal Popular Initiative "Safeguarding Swiss Neutrality".
Swiss Federal Chancellery. [Open Access]
[2] Villiger, M. E. (2022). Anchoring Swiss Neutrality in Domestic Law.
EIZ Publishing / unser-recht.ch. [Open Access]
[3] swissinfo.ch (2025). What does the Neutrality Initiative want?
SWI swissinfo.ch. [Open Access]
Last updated: March 2026