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140:, which gathered 111,300 signatures (100,000 were required to initiate a vote). On 26 November 1989, 68.6% of eligible voters cast their ballot, resulting in 1,052,218 (35.6%) votes for the initiative. The high percentage of yes voters stunned everybody, and was interpreted as a manifestation of a remarkable loss of significance of the military in Swiss society. Although the initiative was rejected, the surprising result of the initiative influenced later reforms of Switzerland's armed forces.
155:. The Swiss electorate approved this proposal in 2002. In 2001, the GSoA gathered more than 60,000 signatures for a referendum against the revised legislation regulating the structure and deployment of the armed forces. The GSoA especially opposed the option to send armed troops abroad — a concern that was shared by some right-wing traditionalists. On 10 June 2001, the revised legislation was approved by 51% of the voters.
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On 2 December 2001, Swiss voters considered two additional GSoA initiatives, called "In favor of a credible security policy and a
Switzerland without an army" and "Solidarity instead of soldiers: In favor of a voluntary civilian peace service". In contrast to the first initiative to abolish the Swiss
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On 27 September 2020, the GSoA narrowly failed to defeat the next proposal to purchase new fighter jets. In another referendum, 50.1% of the electorate approved an appropriations bill providing for CHF 6 billion for aircraft of an unspecified type, to which the GSoA led the opposition. When the
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announced its plans to purchase a new generation of fighter aircraft. Immediately after this, the GSoA started an initiative that proposes a 10-year-moratorium for aircraft procurements. The collection of signatures was completed in May 2009. After guaranteeing the group that there would be a
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fighter jets. Within 32 days, the GSoA gathered 503,719 signatures. Never before and never since has an initiative been submitted within such a short time or with a comparable number of signatures. Nevertheless, the Swiss people rejected the initiative on the ballot by 57% to 43%.
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Referendum about new fighter jets the group pulled the initiative back. When the parliament decided to buy new jets 2014 it was possible to collect signatures for a referendum which is easier to win than an initiative. In the end 53% of Swiss voters decided not to buy new
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against arms trade. The Swiss would vote in a referendum on an amendment to the constitution that would ban the export of any weapon from
Switzerland. This national referendum was held on November 29, 2009.
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On 21 September 2007, the GSoA submitted an initiative that required a ban on all arms exports from
Switzerland. This initiative was rejected in a
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63:. Its roster has varied considerably; as of 2009 its website stated that it consists of about 20,000 members or supporters, consisting largely of
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In 1999, the GSoA assisted in collecting the 50,000 valid signatures necessary for a referendum on whether
Switzerland would join the
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and the GSoA made the largest contributions. The initiative was rejected on
February 13, 2011 with 56.3% of the voters saying no.
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army, there was only sparse public debate on the issue - another topic dominated the media and the minds of the people: The
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to store the assault rifles of each soldier at home. The initiative was supported by some 40 organisations, of which the
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using the direct democratic tools in
Switzerland to propose constitutional amendments and stimulate the public debate;
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which occurred a few weeks before the vote took place. Both initiatives were rejected by 78% and 77% of the voters.
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opposition to arms procurements, for example against the fighter jets which the Swiss army is about to purchase;
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fighter jets on May 18, 2014. This was the first victory on the ballot for GSoA in a nationwide referendum.
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practical and legal information, such as alternatives to
Switzerland's mandatory military service, e.g.
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Another initiative required stricter legislation on private possession of firearms and a stop to the
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Flag (in French) of the popular initiative for a ban on the financing of producers of war equipment.
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in June 2021, the GSoA announced another popular initiative intended to prevent the purchase.
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opposition to arms trade: In 2007, the group filed enough signatures for a national
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The group is politically active and spreads awareness of its cause in several ways:
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285:"Eidgenössische Volksinitiative 'für ein Verbot von Kriegsmaterial-Exporten'"
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In Spring 1992, both chambers of the Swiss parliament decided to procure 34
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For a
Switzerland Without an Army and an Overall Peaceful Political Stance
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was rejected by 73.2% of the Swiss electorate on
September 22, 2013.
339:"Eidgenössische Volksinitiative 'Ja zur Aufhebung der Wehrpflicht'"
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on
November 29, 2009 with 68.2% of the voters casting a no.
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constant criticism of Switzerland's militaristic traditions.
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media work, covering subjects such as arms equipment sales.
260:"English | GSoA - Gruppe für eine Schweiz ohne Armee"
438:"Swiss government sets sights on F-35A fighter jet fleet"
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founded in 1982 by 120 activists in order to abolish the
386:"Wings of air force clipped in nationwide ballot - SWI"
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309:"Volksinitiative "Für den Schutz vor Waffengewalt""
410:"Wafer-thin majority approves new fighter jets"
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132:In early 1986 the group launched its first
101:The group focuses on the following topics:
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705:Peace organisations based in Switzerland
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29:Group for a Switzerland without an army
179:Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
53:Gruppo per una Svizzera senza Esercito
136:, named, in the English translation,
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367:Aviation Week & Space Technology
630:Parachute Reconnaissance Company 17
715:1982 establishments in Switzerland
582:Military Police Special Detachment
208:government selected the U.S.-made
37:Gruppe für eine Schweiz ohne Armee
16:Swiss anti-military advocacy group
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720:Organizations established in 1982
436:swissinfo.ch/mga (30 June 2021).
45:Groupe pour une Suisse sans armée
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710:Anti-conscription organizations
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188:GSoA's initiative to abolish
55:, GSsE) is a Swiss political
554:Weapons of mass destruction
120:Initiatives and referendums
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384:Geiser, Urs (2014-05-18).
374:, 25 (22 June 2009), p. 12
230:"Groupe Suisse sans Armée"
183:Green Party of Switzerland
645:Aeromedical Center (AMC)
700:Military of Switzerland
587:Special Forces Command
362:Swiss Face Fighter Vote
92:conscientious objectors
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88:Swiss Civilian Service
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197:Swiss Federal Council
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90:, often opted for by
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161:September 11 attacks
75:Means and objectives
524:Ministry of Defence
418:. 27 September 2020
510:Swiss Armed Forces
319:on 7 February 2011
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313:www.ejpd.admin.ch
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153:United Nations
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539:Intelligence
529:Conscription
467:(in English)
447:. Retrieved
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393:. Retrieved
390:Swissinfo.ch
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346:. Retrieved
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321:. Retrieved
317:the original
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268:. Retrieved
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242:. Retrieved
238:the original
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195:In 2008 the
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190:conscription
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28:
26:
684:Switzerland
569:Land Forces
266:(in German)
234:www.gssa.ch
694:Categories
559:Opposition
449:2021-06-30
422:2021-06-30
395:2016-04-05
348:2016-04-05
323:17 January
294:2016-04-05
270:2016-04-05
244:17 January
216:References
168:referendum
134:initiative
107:initiative
61:Swiss army
640:Squadrons
625:PC-7 Team
607:Air Force
443:Swissinfo
415:Swissinfo
65:pacifists
31:, (GSwA;
672:Politics
635:Aircraft
597:Swisscoy
592:Swissint
517:Overview
343:Admin.ch
289:Admin.ch
47:, GSsA;
39:, GSoA;
658:Portals
615:History
534:History
264:Gsoa.ch
49:Italian
577:ARD 10
549:Awards
202:Gripen
181:, the
41:French
33:German
544:Ranks
325:2022
246:2022
210:F-35
67:and
27:The
372:170
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440:.
412:.
388:.
370:,
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71:.
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502:e
495:t
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94:;
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