World Church · October 8, 2026
Also published in Русский, Nederlands
Swiss Church Criticizes War Material Relaxation
On 29 November 2026, Swiss voters will decide on an amendment to the Federal Act on War Material (LFMG). The referendum opposes the easing of export rules for weapons, which Parliament adopted on 19 December 2025.
The amendment would permit arms exports to warring partner states under certain conditions, provided the exports align with Switzerland’s neutrality and foreign or security policy interests.
Swiss legislators also authorized the Federal Council to deviate from standard authorization criteria when safeguarding Swiss interests demands it.
A third issue involves the ‘non-reexport declaration’, whereby states pledge not to resell or transfer Swiss-purchased war material to a third state. Parliament sought to drop the systematic requirement for such guarantees, except when foreign policy, neutrality, or security considerations justify it.
«The Swiss responsibility does not end with the sale»
Without issuing an explicit voting instruction, the EERS Council raised criticism on 5 October 2026 regarding these three parliamentary decisions contested by the referendum.
The EERS Council first acknowledges that Switzerland may sell weapons to a warring country. It stresses, however, that «membership in a group of states is insufficient to assess risks tied to a concrete delivery».
Granting the Federal Council flexibility to bypass standard criteria also concerns the Reformed body, which demands «strictly limited conditions, publicly argued justification and effective parliamentary oversight».
The flexibility of the ‘non-reexport declaration’ likewise troubles the Reformed Council, which deplores «a weakening of control over the final destination of Swiss war material». «Swiss responsibility does not end with the sale», it notes.
The «just peace» concept emerges as a decisive criterion.
The EERS Council generally accepts «the evolution of the security situation and the need to ensure reliable supply of security-related goods». It therefore does not reject arms exports in principle: «In certain circumstances, arms deliveries can protect people from violence. Existing restrictions must also be evaluated against this aim».
Yet for the Reformed Council, reference to a «just peace» is pivotal. «Civilian conflict management and violence prevention take priority. When military means may be necessary, they remain subject to strict legal and ethical conditions. Anyone easing export restrictions must justify why additional risks are acceptable and how civilian protection remains guaranteed».
(Source: cath.ch/com/arch/rz)