Swiss Voters Reject Women's Service and Inheritance Tax Initiatives

Swiss voters overwhelmingly rejected two major initiatives on Sunday, turning down a proposal to mandate national service for women and a plan to impose a steep tax on large inheritances to fund climate efforts. The referendums, held across the country's 26 cantons, highlighted ongoing debates over gender equality, economic impacts and environmental priorities in the neutral Alpine nation.

Official results showed the so-called Citizen Service initiative failing decisively, with more than 84 percent of voters casting no votes and not a single canton supporting it. Under Switzerland's direct democracy system, proposals require approval from both a majority of voters and a majority of cantons to pass, a threshold the measure clearly missed. The initiative sought to extend mandatory service, currently required only for men, to all citizens aged 18 and older. Women can already volunteer for military or civil protection roles, but the plan would have made participation compulsory for them as well, potentially in areas like environmental protection, food security or elderly care.

Supporters argued the change would promote true equality and strengthen social cohesion amid rising...