Defense Federal Councillor Pfister: "No rejection of volunteering"
The resounding "no" to the service citizen initiative is not a rejection of militia service, said Defense Minister Martin Pfister after the results of the vote were published. However, the voters wanted this commitment to remain voluntary.
30.11.2025, 16:50
SDA
Whether fire departments, music clubs, sports clubs and scouts or political offices: The voters had not rejected this commitment by rejecting the service-citizen initiative, Defense Minister Pfister told the media in Bern on Sunday afternoon. The country lives from this selfless commitment.
"But people want this commitment to remain voluntary and not become compulsory," emphasized Pfister. Women can continue to volunteer for the army or civil defense, and the Federal Council is keen to recruit more women for these services. "Women are of great value to the army."
The Federal Council wants to attract more women to serve, not least by making the orientation day, which is now compulsory for young Swiss men, compulsory for women. The constitutional amendment for the orientation day is currently in the consultation process.
The implementation of a parliamentary motion to introduce compulsory security service for men is also in progress. This would have to be fulfilled by the military or civil protection. The current civil defence and civilian service are to be merged into this organization under the responsibility of the cantons.
Pfister also referred to the ongoing work to help the military and civil defense get more personnel. Among other things, military service should be more compatible with the private lives and careers of members of the armed forces.
It has been decided that civilian service members will have to serve in civil defense if civil defense has too few personnel. In the fall, parliament decided to raise the hurdles for switching from the army to civilian service. A referendum was held against this plan.
