Switzerland

Council of States rejects neutrality initiative but wants to enshrine neutrality more clearly in the Federal Constitution

by Dr. phil. René Roca, member of the initiative committee*

(4 July 2025) (CH-S) On 20 and 21 June 2025, René Roca, a long-standing high school teacher and historian with a doctorate, presented his views on the significance of the neutrality initiative for our country at the “Swiss Standpoint” association in Frauenfeld and discussed them in detail with the participants. In his presentation, he outlined several key historical events that have helped to keep our country out of war and maintain internal and external peace over the last 200 years.

Where is the sovereignty in Switzerland’s health policy?

Federal Council tightens its course of adjustment to the requirements of supranational organisations

by Dr. med. Sabine Vuilleumier-Koch*

(4 July 2025) “At its meeting on 20 June 2025, the Federal Council decided to accept the amendments to the International Health Regulations (IHR 2005).” This news did not come as a surprise, but it was still shocking. With its actions, the Federal Council has once again made it clear that the international stage is more important to it than Switzerland's sovereignty in its health policy.

The nation Hitler feared conquering

Why Hitler never occupied Switzerland: The power of armed neutrality

by Felix Abt*

(27 June 2025) Switzerland’s survival was no accident – it was a masterpiece of military deterrence and strategic manoeuvring. Switzerland’s survival during the Second World War was not by chance, but the result of a deliberate and calculated strategy of armed neutrality. While Hitler conquered most of Europe, Switzerland remained independent, unoccupied and defiantly neutral, despite being surrounded by hostile Axis powers.

Neutrality is a principle of foreign policy, not an emotional commitment

Neutrality initiative: arguments instead of slogans

by Prof. Dr em. Wolf Linder*

(13 June 2025) No sooner had the popular initiative “for a neutral, cosmopolitan and humanitarian Switzerland” been submitted than the mainstream media launched a chorus of condemnation, dubbing it “Blocher initiative” or “Putin initiative”. The aim was to discredit the popular initiative from the outset and stifle any objective discussion.

Anyone who dismisses the “Sechseläuten” as “not inclusive enough” does not understand traditions

by Kacem El Ghazzali,* Switzerland

(9 May 2025) I love Sechseläuten. And I love roasting sausages over embers with a can of beer in my hand while the flames completely consume the “Böögg”. True Sechseläuten fans are not afraid of the hot embers. They persevere. Because it is precisely this collective experience of persevering together that is the magic of this unique Zurich ritual.

“We caved in – under pressure from the big banks”

The sanctions against Russia and the importance of neutrality in economic warfare

(9 May 2025) Interview with former Federal Councillor Christoph Blocher*, questions by Christoph Pfluger**

Christoph Pfluger: Neutrality is primarily understood in military terms, but as we are now seeing, it also has an economic component. How do you see it?