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Could be harder to avoid the army

Thursday, 25 June 2026 06:30

Swiss men could soon lose the choice between military service and the civilian alternative.

The Federal Council announced today it wants to fold civil protection and the civil service into a single new disaster-protection corps, with security service compulsory in one form or the other. 

The army is short of troops and civil protection is well below strength, at 57,000 members instead of the 72,000 it needs. 

Conscientious objectors could still opt out, but for longer service periods. 

The reform needs a change to the constitution and a national vote, and could only take effect from 2031 or 2032.

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