Swiss wait to hear result of ballot on capping population at 10 million | Switzerland
The national vote on an unprecedented far-right proposal to cap Switzerland’s population at 10 million concluded this weekend amid warnings that it could have devastating consequences for the country’s economy if voters support the initiative.
A “yes” vote would require the Swiss government to take steps to limit the population to 10 million by 2050, with tough restrictions on family reunification, residence permits and asylum if the number reaches 9.5 million before then.
If the 10 million threshold is still exceeded before 2050, a proposal by the far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) would force the government to withdraw from the country’s free movement agreement with the EU and end its access to the bloc’s single market.
Switzerland’s system of direct democracy allows “public initiatives” to be put to referendum if they receive 100,000 supporters within 18 months. Plebiscites, typically held four times a year, have long been a tool of choice for the anti-immigrant SVP.
Switzerland’s population has increased by 23 percent since the free movement agreement came into force in 2002, much faster than that of surrounding EU countries. Economic output increased by nearly 24 percent over the same period, according to government figures.
Approximately 27% of Swiss residents are non-citizens. Supporters of the “No to Switzerland of 10 million” initiative say workers, mostly from the EU, are putting housing, schools, transport, social assistance and the Swiss way of life under intolerable pressure.
SVP, the largest party in the Swiss parliament since 1999, said in its campaign, “Uncontrolled immigration is causing Switzerland to grow too quickly. The negative consequences are felt in every aspect of life.”
The seven-member government, made up of ministers from Switzerland’s four largest parties, including the SVP, collectively opposes the initiative and warns it would threaten national stability, harm the economy and harm Switzerland’s prosperity.
Clear majorities in both houses of parliament also recommended rejecting the proposal, as did the Swiss trade union federation, the Swiss Employers Association and the country’s main business umbrella organisation, Economiesuisse.
Rudolf Minsch, chief economist at Economiesuisse, said the proposal was a populist attempt to solve complex problems with a simple artificial title. “It sells the illusion of a free lunch and will not solve our housing or traffic problems,” he said.
SVP MP Thomas Matter dismissed the concerns as fear-mongering. “We are not against immigration, but it needs to be moderate and controlled,” he said. “We had qualitative immigration before; now we have quantitative migration.”
Populist right-wing parties in Europe have successfully exploited and exacerbated concerns about immigration; This is also evident in Britain’s 2016 Brexit vote and the growing support for parties such as the National Rally in France and the AfD in Germany.
However, Philippe Wanner, a demographer at the University of Geneva, said that although many countries limit immigration, no country has voted explicitly to limit its population; Despite this, countries such as China have passed laws to reduce growth.
Like many European countries, Switzerland needs immigration because birth rates are falling and its population is getting older. The proportion of people over the age of 65 is expected to increase from 21% to over 27% in 2055.
Latest polls show the campaign against the proposal has gained ground since the referendum was announced in February, but most polls point to a close race; The “no” side is predicted to win with about 52% of the vote.
Polling stations will open briefly on Sunday to allow in-person voting, but 90 percent of voters in Swiss referendums typically vote by mail. To be adopted, the initiative must win both the popular vote and a majority of Switzerland’s 23 full and six half-cantons.
Results should be known by mid-afternoon Sunday.
