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The Swiss participation in Atalanta is compromised

(BRUSSELS2) The Swiss National Council - the first Swiss federal chamber - has just declared its opposition to the sending of Swiss soldiers to the European anti-piracy operation Atalanta. By 103 votes against 84 and 11 abstentions, the deputies thus expressed their refusal to approve the government's decision. It was mainly the UDc - nationalist - Green deputies who led the opposition. But they were joined by a good number of socialist deputies. And even some Christian Democrats. What is an indicator that the question
transcends political boundaries. Two arguments weighed in: the lack of sufficient legal bases because Swiss soldiers will be defending boats from third countries and not Swiss boats (for the UDC), the fact of taking part in a mission led by NATO (for the left and the Greens). The Council of States - which had already spoken and had itself approved the operation - is disavowed. He will have to decide again according to my Swiss colleagues.

Nicolas Gros Verheyde

Chief editor of the B2 site. Graduated in European law from the University of Paris I Pantheon Sorbonne and listener to the 65th session of the IHEDN (Institut des Hautes Etudes de la Défense Nationale. Journalist since 1989, founded B2 - Bruxelles2 in 2008. EU/NATO correspondent in Brussels for Sud-Ouest (previously West-France and France-Soir).

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