Neutrality vote: Ticino is the canton with the most communes in favour

The neutrality initiative was rejected nationwide, with more than 70 percent of voters against it. No canton approved it. Behind this uniform result, however, lie marked local differences: Italian-speaking Switzerland stands out as the region with the strongest support for the text.

Of the 149 Swiss communes that voted in favour of the initiative, launched by Pro Svizzera and figures from the Swiss People's Party including Christoph Blocher, 45 are in Ticino. This is the highest share recorded in a single canton, according to provisional official data published by the cantons and the Confederation. Ticino communes that voted in favour include centres such as Biasca, Chiasso, Faido and Stabio, along with numerous communes in the valleys.

The Italian-speaking component also carries weight in Graubünden: of the 15 Graubünden communes that approved the initiative, 12 belong to Italian-speaking Graubünden, including Mesocco, Grono and Roveredo.

A phenomenon tied to the periphery, not just language

Communes in favour of the initiative are also found in other parts of the country, particularly German-speaking Switzerland: 38 in the canton of Bern, 12 in Schwyz, 3 between Appenzell Ausserrhoden and St. Gallen. Support remained minimal in French-speaking Switzerland. The higher concentration in Italian-speaking regions is nonetheless a significant finding.

The communes that voted yes are located mainly in alpine and peripheral areas: besides Ticino and Graubünden, Uri, Schwyz and the two Appenzell cantons stand out, while communes in urban cantons are scarcely represented. Distance from major centres, together with local historical and cultural ties, appears to matter more than the language spoken. This is a recurring pattern in federal votes, where differences often follow the line between urban and rural areas rather than between language communities.

A similar trend emerged the same voting Sunday with the food initiative, which was supported nationwide by only three communes: Campo Vallemaggia and Verzasca in Ticino, and Schelten in the canton of Bern. Here too, two of the three communes in favour are in Ticino, a further sign of the distinct pattern shown by Italian-speaking Switzerland on this Sunday of federal votes.