Ahead of the vote: the Fireworks Initiative and the War Material Act under discussion

On 29 November 2026, we will be voting on the following proposals, amongst others:

– The popular initiative ‘For a restriction on fireworks’ calls for a ban on the sale of loud fireworks to protect people, animals and the environment. Silent pyrotechnics and official fireworks displays at authorised public festivals are to be exempt from this ban.
– On 19 December 2025, Parliament amended the ‘Federal Act on War Material’. Under the amendment, restrictions on the export of war material would be relaxed: Swiss companies would be permitted to sell military equipment to 25 selected countries even if those countries are involved in an armed conflict. Furthermore, Switzerland would dispense with non-re-export declarations and would only require them for specific reasons relating to neutrality, security or foreign policy.

Gain a solid foundation for an informed vote through a factual and interdisciplinary exchange of views.

Guests
– Prof. Dr Gilberto Pasinelli, Chair of the Institute’s Management Board and Head of Research at the Swiss Ornithological Institute
– Georg Häsler, Security Policy Editor at the Neue Zürcher Zeitung, Colonel in the Swiss Army

Chair/Moderator
– Sebastian Muders, Head of the Department of Environmental and Health Ethics, Paulus Academy
– Csongor Kozma, Director of the Paulus Academy