Swiss voters have backed imposing stricter rules for claiming conscientious objection to military service.
The Swiss voted and approved on Sunday a new law aiming to make civilian service less attractive and less accessible in favour of military service.
The war in Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions are pushing European countries to bolster army numbers.
The referendum passed with 52.46 percent of voters in favour, the final result showed on Sunday.
It was the political left in the neutral country that called the referendum.
They argue the bill is dangerous and could ultimately lead to the alternative to military service being scrapped altogether.
Switzerland has compulsory military service for men. They serve in a unique militia system in which army conscripts do at least four months’ service before being called up repeatedly over a decade for weeks-long refresher sessions.
People who conscientiously oppose military service have since 1996 been permitted to perform civilian service instead.
Since access to civilian service was simplified in 2009, the numbers choosing that option have steadily climbed – a trend the government warns has become “problematic”.
During a parliamentary debate in April, Swiss President Guy Parmelin warned that civilian service had “become a problematic mass phenomenon”, insisting on the need to ensure the option remains “the exception”.
The Swiss parliament last year adopted a bill aimed at limiting the appeal and significantly reducing the numbers accessing the option.
The bill primarily targets members of the growing number of armed forces who transfer to civilian service after completing most of their military service, leaving them with relatively few additional days of service.
This is often seen as an attempt to skirt the mandatory annual refreshers and shooting practice.
