Swiss voters look set to reject proposal to change neutrality, poll shows

ZURICH, Aug 19 (Reuters) - Swiss voters ‌look set ​to reject ​next month proposals for a tighter definition of neutrality that would prevent the country from issuing economic sanctions or cooperating ‌with NATO, according to a poll published on Wednesday.

Nearly two-thirds of ⁠respondents said they opposed the neutrality initiative in the survey conducted for newspapers 20 Minuten ‌and Tamedia.

Some 62% of the ‌13,154 questioned were against the proposal backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), with 32% in favour.

Switzerland goes to the polls on September 27 ​to vote on the initiative, which wants a tighter definition of Switzerland's traditional neutrality written into the constitution. The government opposes the proposal.

Supporters ⁠want Swiss neutrality to be defined as "perpetual and armed," barring it from joining or cooperating with military ​or defence alliances except in the event of an attack or imminent attack.

The move would also prohibit participation in third-country ​wars and sanctions against belligerents, apart from U.N. ‌sanctions and anti-circumvention measures, and require Switzerland to use neutrality to support mediation.

Only SVP supporters were clearly in favour ⁠of the proposal, the poll said, with supporters of all of Switzerland's other parties strongly against.

The centre-right FDP party said it opposed the initiative, saying it was harmful ⁠and would only favour aggressive nations such as Russia.

"Prohibiting Switzerland from supporting international efforts in ​response to flagrant violations of international law would, in effect, help strengthen the aggressors' camp," said co-president Benjamin Muehlemann.

"Switzerland must stand on the side of peace, the rule of ‌law, and democracy — not on the side of autocrats."

A second proposal to increase Swiss food security by raising domestic production, ‌shifting consumption and farming toward more plant-based food, and better protecting drinking water, ⁠soil and biodiversity, also looks ‌set to be rejected.

The "secure food ​supply initiative" was supported by 31% of those questioned, with 65% against, the poll said.

(Reporting by John Revill; Editing by ‌Clarence Fernandez)

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