Switzerland

The “Bürgenstock summit” can be successful ... but only without Zelensky (and Cassis)

by Guy Mettan,* Geneva

(31 May 2024) The bush of the Bürgenstock hides the devastated forest of Swiss diplomacy. Forgive me for this hackneyed metaphor, but it is unfortunately the sad reality. Since Ignazio Cassis took office in 2017, which was aggrevated by the arrival of Viola Amherd at the head of the Defence Department in 2018 – both fierce advocates of a realignment towards NATO and the USA – Swiss foreign policy has taken a turn for the worse. And in the wrong direction.

Switzerland – going to war with NATO?

Independence and neutrality (2)

by Thomas Scherr*

(17 May 2024) A new understanding of independence and neutrality has spread like mildew across the Swiss media world and is now being instilled into the public’s consciousness. Even politicians and federal councillors are now of the mistaken opinion that a rapprochement with NATO could somehow be compatible with the country’s neutrality. An extremely fatal error.

Switzerland is slowly and imperceptibly finding itself in a situation that hardly anyone could have imagined. As a small state, it is threatened to become a cog in a huge military machine – there can no longer be any talk of neutrality and independence. And this even though the value of neutrality is consistently ranked first in surveys of how the Swiss see themselves. Politicians affirm the country’s neutrality again and again, while they themselves stand idly by... or are actively involved in steering Switzerland into a highly dangerous situation.

“The physical limits of wind and sun cannot be levered out by laws”

by Ueli Gubler*

(10 May 2024) (CH-S) On 9 June 2024, a federal referendum on four proposals will take place. The first three proposals concern a decision on three popular initiatives on healthcare issues.

The fourth proposal is about the acceptance or rejection of the “Federal Act on a Secure Electricity Supply with Renewable Energy Sources” passed by Parliament in autumn 2023. A committee has launched a referendum against this law and collected the necessary 50,000 signatures within three months. As a result, this federal law is now up for a vote.

Ueli Gubler has analysed the content of this law on “secure electricity supply” and sets out his considerations for the “Swiss Standpoint” in the following article.

Questionable aspects of “soft law” in Swiss foreign policy

Undermining democracy in international agreements

by Ueli Meister

(3 May 2024) For some time now, the Swiss Federal Council has been signing international treaties of major importance on its own without the involvement of Parliament and the people. It describes these agreements as so-called “soft law”, which is not legally binding and therefore falls within the remit of the Federal Council.

Independence and neutrality

Switzerland in the EU mist

by Thomas Scherr*

(26 April 2024) A new understanding of independence and neutrality is settling like mildew over the Swiss media world and spreading among the population. In the following, this mildew will be removed with a few facts and some logic.

In dire straits

Federal Bern is sacrificing Swiss neutrality. The country must get back on track

by Thomas Scherr*

(12 April 2024) Hardly noticed by the public, the Swiss government has brought the country dangerously close to the EU and NATO. The foreign policy situation concerning Switzerland has been coming to a head for several months now. As if by magic, the country is being drawn directly into a major geopolitical conflict, but hardly anyone is talking about it. Switzerland side by side with NATO and the EU in the next world war – how can the country regain its independence?