詹姆斯·基顿 日内瓦 —— 瑞士选民将于周日就一项旨在强化该国备受推崇的中立地位的提案进行表决。这项公投由一个右翼民粹主义政党支持，该党坚称瑞士政府已过度靠拢欧盟和北约，尤其是在俄罗斯对乌克兰战争的问题上。
JAMEY KEATEN GENEVA — Voters in Switzerland are deciding Sunday on a proposal to strengthen the country’s vaunted neutrality . The referendum is supported by a right-wing populist party that insists the Swiss government has gravitated too close to the European Union and NATO, notably over Russia’s war in Ukraine .
由瑞士人民党倡导的该方案的支持者希望瑞士强化其对中立的承诺，该中立政策自19世纪中叶起即被写入宪法，但多年来围绕中立的真正含义一直存在争议。
Backers of the plan championed by the Swiss People’s Party want Switzerland to reinforce its commitment to neutrality that has been enshrined in the constitution since the mid-19th century and has faced years of debate over what that neutrality really means.
该党在议会中拥有最多席位，且部分成员倾向亲俄，对于瑞士联邦政府决定加入欧盟对俄罗斯的制裁感到不满，联邦政府称俄罗斯对乌克兰发动了“侵略战争”。
The party, which has the most seats in parliament and counts some members with pro-Russia leanings, has bristled over the Swiss federal government’s decision to join EU sanctions against Russia over what the government calls Russia’s “war of aggression” against Ukraine.
该措施将禁止政府加入针对任何交战国的制裁，除非是联合国批准的制裁。俄罗斯作为联合国安理会五个常任理事国之一，拥有否决权。
The measure would prohibit the government from joining sanctions against any belligerent country except sanctions approved by the United Nations. Russia wields a veto on the U.N. Security Council as one of its five permanent members.
瑞士不属于任何军事同盟。如果通过，将禁止瑞士政府与任何同盟合作——就像其与北约合作了三十年，包括联合演习那样——除非面临威胁。
Switzerland is not a member of any military alliance. Passage would bar the Swiss government from cooperating with any alliance — as it has with NATO for three decades, including through joint exercises — except in cases of threat.
支持者表示，鉴于每一场冲突，瑞士对中立的承诺必须得到重申和捍卫，并声称政府已“危险地”靠近欧盟和北约，威胁到瑞士的安全和行动独立性。
Supporters say Switzerland’s commitment to neutrality must be reaffirmed and defended in light of every conflict, and claim that the government has moved “dangerously close” to the EU and NATO in ways that threaten Switzerland’s security and independence of action.
反对者包括联邦政府和议会，他们表示宪法已赋予联邦政府保护国家利益所需的余地。
Opponents, including the federal government and parliament, say the constitution already gives the federal government the leeway it needs to protect national interests.
在瑞士的民主制度中，选民通常每年投票四次，作为公众直接参与决策的一种方式。
In Swiss democracy, voters typically cast ballots four times a year as a way to give the public a direct say in policymaking.
瑞士政府由一个行政部门领导，该部门的七名成员来自不同政治光谱，并通过共识做出决策。
The Swiss government is led by an executive branch whose seven members come from across the political spectrum and make decisions by consensus.
瑞士总统一职在成员间每年轮换一次，这一主要为礼仪性的总统职位目前由瑞士人民党的居伊·帕梅兰担任，被视为同僚中的首席。
The Swiss presidency rotates each year among its members and the largely ceremonial role of president, currently Guy Parmelin of the Swiss People’s Party, is considered a first among equals.