No to Switzerland at 10 million: good news for Bilaterals III and their supporters. For now.

Swiss citizens have rejected a key initiative by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (UDC), a move that breathes new life into the ongoing debate over future relations with the European Union. The clear "no" vote on Sunday is a significant win for supporters of the "Bilaterals III" package and the principle of free movement of people.

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The prosperity of our country is not built in isolation. It is also built through our exchanges with others. The signal sent by the vote is extremely strong: the Swiss refused to put an end to the bilateral path. It was a major issue in this vote.

"The prosperity of our country is not built in isolation. It is also built through our exchanges with others," said Samuel Bendahan, a socialist national councilor. He emphasized that voters understood the essential link between the initiative's potential consequences and Switzerland's relationship with the EU. The signal sent by the vote, he added, is "extremely strong: the Swiss refused to put an end to the bilateral path. It was a major issue in this vote."

This sentiment was echoed by right-wing colleagues who had united with the left for the campaign. UDC National Councilor Nicolas Kolly acknowledged that while the initiative's defeat is positive for the Bilaterals, it is "not a blank check" for them. Kolly suggested that international uncertainty may have influenced voters, who might have been hesitant to risk a change in direction or what some perceived as a political experiment.

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If the initiative had been accepted, it would have been an excellent signal against the Bilaterals III. The opposite is true, even if this vote is not a blank check in favor of these agreements.

The outcome provides a much-needed boost for proponents of closer ties with the EU, especially as the Bilaterals III package is set for parliamentary debate. The vote reaffirms a commitment to the bilateral approach, though the nuances of international relations and domestic concerns continue to shape the discussion.

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People may not have wanted to take the risk of changing course, not wanted to embark on what some perceived as a form of political experimentation. A majority considered that the initiative could create a certain insecurity.