Swiss voters appear to reject proposal to cap population at 10 million | Switzerland
Voters in Switzerland on Sunday rejected an unprecedented far-right proposal to limit the country’s population to 10 million in a divisive referendum dubbed the “Swiss Brexit.”
Projections by national broadcaster SRF, which traditionally calls for a referendum vote, showed that around 55% of voters were against the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) proposal, and around 45% were in favour.
A different outcome would have forced the Swiss government to limit the population, currently 9.1 million, to 10 million by 2050; If the number had reached 9.5 million before that date, it would have imposed strict restrictions on family reunification, residence permits and asylum.
According to the proposals, if the 10 million threshold number is exceeded before 2050, the Swiss government would be forced to withdraw from the country’s free movement agreement with the EU, thus ending its access to the bloc’s single market.
The SVP, which has the most seats in parliament, has fueled anti-immigrant sentiment for years, especially regarding workers from neighboring EU countries.
The party had insisted that a so-called “sustainability initiative” was needed to address population growth, which it said was putting pressure on Switzerland’s infrastructure, housing, social programmes, natural resources and lifestyle.
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. According to official data, approximately 27% of people living in Switzerland are not citizens.
Urs Bieri, of polling firm GFS Bern, told Reuters the initiative failed because people were not convinced about the plan and worried about possible side effects despite widespread concerns about population growth.
“Voters were concerned that it would have negative consequences for Switzerland’s relations with the EU and the labor market,” he said. “People are also concerned about issues like having enough care and health workers. There’s also a feeling that in the current international environment it doesn’t make sense for a small country to do this.”
The seven-member government, made up of ministers from Switzerland’s four largest parties, including the SVP, collectively opposed the initiative, warning that it would threaten national stability, harm the economy and harm Switzerland’s prosperity.
Business groups also worried that the population ceiling would limit access to foreign workers, damaging the economy and relations with Brussels.
Polls predicted a close result. The forecast was in line with GFS Bern’s latest poll, which predicted the proposal would be narrowly rejected.
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.
Although many countries have restrictions on immigration, none have voted to limit their population.
