Swiss vote on neutrality revives debate over national identity

Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis says neutrality works, and "we don’t need to reinvent it.” | BLOOMBERG

BLOOMBERG

Sep 14, 2026

For Swiss billionaire Christoph Blocher, there’s always one more fight.

The 85-year-old built his business reputation at manufacturer EMS-Chemie, then turned his political party into the country’s biggest by pushing a nationalist and anti-immigration message. He’s stepped back somewhat in recent years but never sits on the sidelines. With the country about to vote on its longstanding neutrality this month, he’s in full campaign mode.

The proposal on the ballot wants to change the constitution, eliminating any flexibility in how neutrality is applied. At the root of the campaign is Switzerland’s shock 2022 decision to adopt European Union sanctions against Russia, which Blocher and the Swiss People’s Party have opposed.

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