Defense Service-citoyen initiative is rejected with 84.2 percent of votes against
A clear majority of Swiss voters are against a compulsory civil service for all men and women. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the service citizen initiative was overwhelmingly rejected with around 84.2 percent of the vote.
30.11.2025, 15:46
30.11.2025, 15:59
SDA
Around 2,014,600 voters rejected the initiative "For a committed Switzerland (service-citizen initiative)", and around 379,600 voted yes on Sunday. The initiative did not receive approval from any canton or even from any of the approximately 2,100 municipalities in the country. The turnout was around 43 percent.
The initiative was rejected most emphatically in the canton of Appenzell Innerrhoden, where 88.3 percent of voters said no. It was followed by the cantons of Valais and Schwyz, each with around 87 percent no votes.
The issue still met with the most approval in the canton of Basel-Stadt. Around 20 percent of voters there voted yes. In the canton of Zurich, just under 19 percent voted in favor and in Schaffhausen a good 18 percent.
The popular initiative called for civil service for all, for the common good and the environment. This could have been either service in the army or civil defence or an equivalent and recognized militia service.
According to the initiators, everyone should be able to serve where he or she is needed. However, the army and civil defense forces should be safeguarded. Those who perform service should receive compensation, while those who are unable to do so should pay a compensation levy.
