by Christian Campiche,*Lausanne
(20 September 2024) Viola Amherd is flirting with NATO. She is entitled to her passions. The problem is her status as President of the Swiss Confederation. Head of the army, yes, but above all a national symbol. A country that has made neutrality its raison d'être over the past two centuries.
(13 September 2024) Lauterbrunnen, 29 August 2024 – The “Study Commission on Security Policy” appointed by the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) presents its report. The one-sided commission turns its back on Swiss neutrality and calls for military affiliation with NATO and the EU. The Commission is despondent and denies Switzerland’s sovereignty in terms of security policy and independent national defence. It wants to offer military services abroad and hopes for military assistance in return. It is playing with fire and making Switzerland a party to the war.
by Thomas Scherr*
(13 September 2024) When Ignazio Cassis spoke of a “reset” in January 2018, people thought he was finally getting serious for Switzerland in the EU negotiations... But “reset” obviously meant a much more thorough process, namely, to reset Swiss history completely and start again with the Habsburgs. But this time as subordinates ... This thinking seems to be spreading among the authorities and cadres in federal Bern.
Statement of the “Swiss Peace Movement SFB”
(6 September 2024) On 21 August 2024, the Federal Council decided to join two PESCO (Permanent Structured Cooperation) projects. In doing so, the Swiss government is taking a further step towards the NATO war alliance and increasingly undermining Switzerland’s neutrality and independence. The “Swiss Peace Movement” sharply criticises this decision.
GIPRI press release of 5 September 2024
(6 September 2024) The Geneva International Peace Research Institute (GIPRI) rejects the ‘’Security Policy Committee Report‘’ presented by Swiss President Viola Amherd on 29 August 2024.
This report is incompatible with Switzerland’s neutrality and must be rejected as contrary to the Swiss constitution and Swiss traditions of neutrality and mediation. Several organisations have already expressed similar views.
by Suzette Sandoz,* Lausanne
(30 August 2024) According to today’s “24 heures” newspaper of 20 August, almost 1000 children in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland do not go to public schools but are taught by their parents. This number has more than doubled in the last seven years.