The lower house of Parliament, the National Council, adopted this measure by 133 votes to 38. "We don't want a swastika or a Hitler salute in our country, ever!" launched the environmentalist MP Raphal Mahaim.
Switzerland, which remained neutral during World War II, came under pressure to align with a number of other European countries in outlawing Nazi symbols. The number of "anti-Semitic incidents, particularly those involving the use of Nazi symbols" has "increased sharply in recent times," said the Minister of Justice, Beat Jans, to justify this reform. The National Council also voted by 132 votes to 40 for this measure to be introduced in stages, an approach supported by the government. The ban would apply to gestures, words, greetings, or flags, as well as to Nazi symbols, which are easily identifiable.