Switzerland

The “Swiss Ideal of democracy” deserves great respect

Modern, not outdated

by Dr Sabine Vuilleumier-Koch*

(4 August 2026) During the parliamentary recess, the Parliament Building in Bern opens its doors to the public. Those interested are invited to visit the historic and magnificent rooms where Swiss politicians work and make decisions that generally have far-reaching consequences for the country and its people. It is certainly not the building itself that is to blame when the “Swiss ideal” is increasingly called into question by these politicians – for example, regarding neutrality and the commitment to peace of past generations.

What kind of neutrality for Switzerland?

2026 Summer Conference of “Swiss Standpoint”

by the editorial team

(7 August 2026) At the 2026 summer conference of “Swiss Standpoint”, entitled “What Kind of Neutrality for Switzerland?”, six experts took part in four panel discussions in Frauenfeld from 24 to 26 July, sharing their views and insights on Swiss neutrality and the upcoming referendum on 27 September 2026 with an engaged audience.

Reflections on “armed neutrality”

by Suzette Sandoz,* Pully VD

(31 July 2026) A neutral country cannot be credible if it does not have a credible army. But first, we must agree on what is meant by the term “credible army”. This is not just a matter of military capabilities, but also – and perhaps above all – of the ability and the will to “be prepared to defend oneself”.
Switzerland–EU

Sword of Damocles hanging over Swiss heads

The devil is in the detail of the treaty package with the EU

by Professor Dr Dr h.c. Carl Baudenbacher*

(24 July 2026) In the official documents on the EU–Switzerland treaty package, the “Explanatory Report” of June 2025 and the dispatch of March 2026, the Federal Council does not stint on praise for its more than seventy negotiators, who between March and December 2024 took part in more than 200 negotiating meetings and rounds across fourteen specialist areas, or tracks. It is said again and again that all negotiating objectives were met, indeed more than met. Since these texts were written by the federal administration, one may assume that the civil servants awarded themselves the applause. Anyone who experienced the defunct GDR will be reminded, to some extent, of the slogans of the Socialist Unity Party (SED) at party congresses.
Switzerland

“Sanctions against Jacques Baud”

Open letter to Mr Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation, drafted by the “Geneva International Peace Research Institute” (GIPRI)

Mr Guy Parmelin, President of the Swiss Confederation
Communications Service SG-DEFR
Federal Palace East
3003 Bern
info@gs-wbf.admin.ch

Geneva, 25 June 2026

Sanctions against Jacques Baud

Dear Mr President

My colleagues at the International Institute for Peace Research in Geneva (GIPRI) and I hereby expressly draw your attention to the case of retired Colonel Jacques Baud.

Colonel Jacques Baud is subject to direct (imposed by the EU) and indirect (imposed by UBS) sanctions which violate several principles and legal provisions to which Switzerland is committed: peace, justice, international law, human rights, the rule of law and neutrality.

“Europe’s last candle”

Switzerland as a counter-model to Brussels’ centralism … that could all come to an end with the EU framework agreement

by Michael Straumann*

(26 June 2026) The planned framework agreement with the European Union is a perennial topic of debate in Switzerland. Consequently, another power struggle broke out at the Federal Palace in Bern at the end of May. Parliamentarians are arguing over which committee – known in Switzerland as a “commission” – should be responsible for the EU treaty package.