As security fears in Europe grow, Switzerland put to a referendum a plan to extend mandatory service, previously applied only to men, to women, but it was voted down. A "superrich tax hike" imposing a 50% inheritance tax on ultra–high-net-worth individuals was also rejected at the same time.
According to AP and AFP, Swiss voters on the 30th (local time) rejected the "citizen service initiative" that would have imposed military, civil defense, and alternative service obligations on women. Final counting is still underway in some regions, but a majority of cantons that already exceed half have opposed it by a wide margin, effectively confirming its defeat. Swiss referendums require simultaneous majority approval by voters and by cantons.
Supporters argued that expanding service would contribute to social cohesion and gender equality and strengthen crisis response. Noemi Rotten, who led the initiative, said the current system that excludes women from military service experience is also discriminatory, and stressed that all young people should contribute to the community in some form.
In Switzerland, about 35,000 men each year participate in military service or civil defense, and conscientious objectors can choose alternative service at hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions. The government, however, opposed the plan, saying troop levels are already sufficient and that conscripting additional personnel would reduce the economically active population and increase expense burdens. It also noted that imposing mandatory service on women could deepen inequality given the high share of unpaid labor such as childcare and housework.
The "superrich" tax plan put to a vote the same day was also defeated. According to initial estimates by Swiss public broadcaster SFR, about 79% of voters cast ballots against it. The proposal would have imposed a 50% inheritance tax on assets over 50 million Swiss francs (about 91.4 billion won) to raise about 6 billion Swiss francs a year (about 10 trillion won) for climate response funding. The government and opponents warned it could trigger the outflow of ultra–high-net-worth individuals and weaken the economic base.