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Swiss Firmly Reject Plan That Risked Worsening EU Relations

  • Polls indicated ‘self-determination’ intiative would fail
  • Swiss want to renew expiring stock market agreement with EU
Campaign posters stand in a street in Geneva prior to a referendum in Switzerland.

Campaign posters stand in a street in Geneva prior to a referendum in Switzerland.

Photographer: Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images

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Switzerland overwhelmingly rejected a plan that could have caused a worsening of relations with the European Union by forcing the government in Bern to renegotiate international treaties.

Two-thirds voters opposed the “self-determination” initiative, which argued for the constitution to take precedence over international law, potentially triggering revisions of treaties if there are conflicts. Polls had indicated a likely rejection.