0 5 1015202530354045 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 51,9% 0 5 1015202530354045 50 55 60 65 70 75 80 85 90 95 100 29,8% The two sides ploughed a combined total of 15 million francs into a fiercely contested voting campaign. Switzerland in the months and years to come, he said. The government takes the arguments of the yes camp seriously, Federal Councillor Jans insisted, citing the action plan to combat the housing crisis as one of a number of measures already taken. The SVP is now focused on scuppering the Swiss-EU package of agreements, which it has consistently dubbed the “subjugation treaty”. Furthermore, parliament will soon debate the so-called “border protection initiative” that was submitted by the SVP in autumn 2025. Switzerland’s biggest party says it wants to tighten border security and “stop asylum abuse”, so that only 5,000 “genuine” refugees are let into the country every year. Tightening access to civilian service A separate item also appeared on the 14 June ballot sheet, with a narrow majority of 52.5 per cent (Swiss Abroad: 51.9 per cent) endorsing a legislative amendment that tightens access to civilian service. The aim of the reform is to keep more young men in the armed forces. In particular, it will now become less appealing for soldiers to switch to civilian service at a later stage, because they will be faced with a much longer service stint if they do so. A left-green alliance called the referendum, opposing what it regarded as an unnecessary impediment that will not make the army automatically more attractive. It is concerned that those affected could exempt themselves from military service by taking medical discharge – instead of doing civilian service for the benefit of society. Civilian service – legislative amendment approved A 52.5 per cent majority voted yes to a change in the Civilian Service Act that will make civilian service less attractive as an alternative to mandatory military service. The majority of expatriate voters (51.9 per cent) also voted in favour. A simple majority of the electorate was sufficient to effect the legislative amendment – no cantonal majority was necessary. “No to a Switzerland of 10 million” – rejected A nationwide minority of 45.2 per cent voted in favour of the initiative. Support for the proposal among the Swiss Abroad was much lower (29.8 per cent). The majority of cantons, likewise, rejected the SVP’s bid to limit Switzerland’s population to 10 million. Swiss Abroad Swiss Abroad “No to a Switzerland of 10 million” – yes votes in per cent Civilian service Initiative – yes votes in per cent Swiss Review / July 2026 / No. 3 27
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