Switzerland to vote on Neutrality and Food initiatives in September 2026

Voters in Switzerland are set to decide on two proposals in a referendum on September 27, 2026. The topics are the Neutrality Initiative and the Food Initiative. Let’s take a look at what is proposed.

What Is the Swiss Neutrality Initiative?

The question of remaining neutral has deep roots in Switzerland’s history and continues to play an important role in current affairs. A Swiss People’s Party-backed proposal, however, wants to further enshrine Switzerland’s neutrality in the Swiss Constitution.

The “Preserving Swiss Neutrality (Neutrality Initiative)” or "Wahrung der schweizerischen Neutralität (Neutralitätsinitiative)", calls for Article 54a on Swiss Neutrality to be amended to say that Switzerland:

1. Remains neutral and its neutrality is “permanent and armed”
2. Will not join any “military or defensive alliance”, only in the case of a direct military threat to the country
3. Avoids participation in “military conflicts between third-party states”, including measures such as economic sanctions unless the United Nations requires otherwise
4. Utilises neutrality to “prevent and resolve conflicts”

Watch the video below for a government summary of the Swiss Neutrality Initiative (in German).

Video: YouTube / Der Schweizerische Bundesrat

What do polling trends show for the Neutrality Initiative?

20 Minuten, Tamedia and Leewas have shared the first pre-referendum polls, suggesting that the initiative will “likely fail at the ballot box,” although this is not guaranteed. 

According to the poll, 62 percent of voters intend to reject the initiative. 36 percent say they will vote in favour and just 2 percent are unsure how they will vote.

The poll results also revealed that people over the age of 65 are much more likely (69 percent) to reject the initiative compared to people aged 18 to 34 years old (48 percent). In Italian-speaking Ticino, the initiative achieved a small majority with 52 percent saying that they intend to vote yes in September. 

Supporters of the initiative argue that the change helps ensure Switzerland’s security and neutrality and that political parties “do not interpret it differently under external pressure,” a government summary explains. 

Opponents argue that further enshrining neutrality in the constitution would reduce Switzerland’s reliability as an international partner and result in the country’s security being “jeopardised,” explains SRF. The proposal would reduce flexibility and restrict the country’s options when acting defensively before an attack or when attempting to uphold international law. 

Respondents of the most recent poll believed the proposal is “unnecessary or too radical,” reports Watson. 

The Federal Council and Swiss Parliament recommend rejecting the proposal, explaining that “neutrality [has been] effective since 1848” and that there is already enough framework in the constitution to protect Switzerland. 

What Is the Food Initiative?

The Food Initiative calls on the federal government to create measures that ensure the country has “access to a sufficient quantity of high-quality and affordable food at all times.” The proposal wants to increase domestic food production and reduce Switzerland’s reliance on foreign imports.

In full, the initiative is called “For a secure food supply – by strengthening sustainable domestic production, more plant-based foods and clean drinking water (Food Initiative)” or “Für eine sichere Ernährung – durch Stärkung einer nachhaltigen inländischen Produktion, mehr pflanzliche Lebensmittel und sauberes Trinkwasser (Ernährungsinitiative)”.

Watch the video below for a government summary of the proposal (in German).

Where do voters stand on the Food Initiative?

Supporters argue that Switzerland needs greater self-sufficiency, noting that less than half of the country's food is currently produced domestically. Most farmable land in Switzerland is used to grow food for animals rather than people, and through measures such as promoting “a balanced mix of plant-based and animal-based consumption” and supporting sustainable food production, the initiative hopes to increase self-sufficiency and ensure clean drinking water, among other things. 

Similar to the Neutrality Initiative, initial voter surveys suggest that the Food Initiative has “little support from the electorate”. In the latest polls, 31 percent said that they would vote yes while 65 percent would vote against the proposal and 4 percent are undecided.

The Federal Council and the Swiss Parliament recommend rejecting the Food Initiative because it “goes too far” and “the goals are hardly achievable in 10 years.” The government would be required to “intervene massively in production and dietary habits”, which would prove costly and reduce consumer choice.