On November 29 Switzerland votes on an easing of the War Materiel Act (SRF, NZZ, Blick, RTS, Tages-Anzeiger). On Thursday the Security Switzerland Alliance, an alliance of the center-right camp and business, opened its campaign for a Yes (RTS, 24 heures, SRF, Watson). It says that eased export rules are essential for the country’s security (SRF). Opposing the revision are the left, aid organizations and churches (24 heures); the referendum committee had presented its warnings on Monday (SRF, Watson). The first poll by 20 Minuten and Tamedia has the No camp narrowly ahead (Watson). Blick writes that war materiel could in future also go to states that are involved in conflicts. 20 Minuten reports ammunition deliveries worth 41 million francs to Saudi Arabia; no second outlet supports this.
The result determines under which conditions Swiss companies may deliver war materiel abroad. It touches on neutrality, the future of the arms industry and the question of how Switzerland deals with Ukraine and other parties to conflicts (NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger).
You will have a vote yourself on November 29. With a No, the current law would remain; with a Yes, the easing passed by Parliament would take effect. For employees and suppliers of the arms industry, orders are at stake.
Without easier exports the arms industry cannot survive, and Switzerland’s security would suffer (SRF, NZZ).
The easing would bring more Swiss weapons into conflict zones and is an “anti-Ukraine law” (NZZ, Tages-Anzeiger).
What is supported are the date, the start of the campaign and the finding that the No side is narrowly ahead in the first poll. Open are the exact figures and the effect of the easing on individual deliveries. The 41-million figure for Saudi Arabia comes only from 20 Minuten. We are watching the next poll and whether the supporters put the security question or the Ukraine question in the foreground.
SRF · NZZ · Blick · RTS · Tages-Anzeiger · 24 heures · Watson · 20 Minuten · swissinfo (Oct. 14/15)
Arms exports: supporters open the referendum campaign, first poll has the No side narrowly ahead
On November 29 Switzerland decides on an easing of the War Materiel Act. The center-right alliance launched its campaign on Thursday; opponents point to Ukraine, Israel and Saudi Arabia.
On November 29 Switzerland decides on an easing of the War Materiel Act (SRF, NZZ, Blick, RTS, Tages-Anzeiger). It is a referendum against an amendment passed by Parliament; with a No, the current law would remain in place, and only the majority of voters counts. The Security Switzerland Alliance, in which the center-right camp and business come together, opened its campaign for a Yes on Thursday (RTS, 24 heures, SRF, Watson, swissinfo). It argues that eased export rules are essential for the country’s security (SRF); the slogan is, in essence, that modern security needs modern laws (RTS). According to Blick, war materiel could in future also go to states that are involved in conflicts. On the other side are the left, aid organizations and churches (24 heures); according to GMX, they see Switzerland’s reputation at risk. The referendum committee had presented its warnings in Bern as early as Monday (SRF, Watson). The debate revolves around neutrality, the arms industry and the army (NZZ); 24 heures speaks of two visions of Switzerland colliding. Several outlets have published explainers, for example on whether Switzerland would be helping Ukraine this way (Blick, Tages-Anzeiger). The Tages-Anzeiger sums up the dispute in the question of whether this is an “anti-Ukraine law” or an emergency anchor for the arms industry. In a debate in the NZZ, SVP National Councillor Mauro Tuena considers the easing important for the domestic arms industry, while SP National Councillor Priska Seiler Graf warns of more Swiss weapons in conflict zones.
The first poll by 20 Minuten and Tamedia, conducted on October 8 and 9, has the No camp narrowly ahead (Watson); the Tages-Anzeiger, too, speaks of skepticism among the public. An argument test by the opponents shows, according to Watson, that Israel and Ukraine play a role; weapons for Israel fueled the No. We could not confirm the exact percentages for this bill. 20 Minuten adds further fuel: despite the war, Switzerland is supplying Saudi Arabia with ammunition worth 41 million francs; no second outlet supports this figure and the time period. According to Watson, the SVP officials still have work ahead of them, also because of Christoph Blocher’s Neutrality Initiative. On Wednesday the Federal Council also announced that Switzerland is taking part in a European armaments program for electronic warfare (SRF, only this outlet). On the same voting Sunday the people also decide on further bills, including the fireworks ban and the value-added tax for the 13th AHV pension (20 Minuten, Tamedia). A good six weeks remain until the vote. Both camps invoke the security and reputation of the country, but mean opposite things by it. Those who vote Yes hope for more reliable export rules for industry; those who vote No want no Swiss weapons in ongoing wars. What remains open is what the revision concretely means for individual deliveries, for example to countries involved in conflicts, and how the authorities would assess such cases in future. We are watching whether the next polls confirm the No and which arguments the campaigns put in the foreground.