Switzerland on Sunday rejected a referendum proposal to cap its population at 10 million, a projection showed, as voters prioritised economic stability and the country's ties with the European Union over immigration concerns.
A preliminary projection published by national broadcaster SRF indicated about 45% of voters were in favour of the proposal and 55% against.
The referendum, which was likened to Britain's 2016 Brexit vote, had put businesses on edge due to concerns it could lead to the end of free movement of labour between Switzerland and the EU, its main trading partner.
The proposal by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party sets a population cap of 10 million by 2050. It also states that if the limit is exceeded for two consecutive years, Switzerland should withdraw from its free movement agreement with the EU.
Urs Bieri from polling firm GFS Bern said the vote failed because although many people were worried about the rising population, they were not convinced by the plan and worried about the possible side-effects.
"From the very beginning it has been presented as the chaos initiative. Voters were worried about negative consequences for Switzerland's relationship with the EU and for the labour market," he said.
Close outcome had been expected
The Swiss population already stands at 9.1 million and has grown far more quickly than in the surrounding EU. Foreigners make up nearly 28% of the Swiss population, which official projections forecast will reach 10 million by the early 2040s.
Polls had forecast a close outcome, and the result tallied with a final survey by pollsters GFS Bern, which had predicted the proposal would be narrowly rejected.
Still, the substantial backing for the measure sits alongside growing support for policies aimed at curbing immigration across Europe. Campaign posters proclaimed only 10% of incomers were skilled workers and that asylum seekers were more likely to be rapists.
Opponents dubbed the plan a recipe for chaos because of the upheaval it would cause for Swiss companies, workers and Bern's ties with the EU.
They also questioned whether it was wise to clash with Brussels after a bruising 2025, when President Donald Trump slapped the highest U.S. tariffs in Europe on Swiss goods.
Patrick Leisibach, a migration expert at think tank Avenir Suisse, said economic arguments had played a role, with people wary of how a "yes" vote would affect their daily lives.
"They wonder 'who is going to serve me at the restaurant?' and 'who is going to care for me when I get old?' It's more about personal welfare which made people reject this initiative," Leisibach said.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claime...
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city...
Concerns are growing over a renewed cholera outbreak in Yemen, after years of conflict has left the country's healthcare system struggling to cope....
A Swiss humanoid robot capable of displaying the faces of world leaders and business executives was showcased at the AI for Good Global Summit in Geneva on Tuesday (7 July). Developers said the technology could make human-machine interactions more natural and expressive.
Tehran’s right to develop and use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes is “inherent, inalienable, and non‑negotiable,” Iranian Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, told the high-level segment of the United Nations Conference on Disarmament in Geneva on Tuesday (17 February).
U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington has agreed to resume talks with Iran after Tehran requested further negotiations, but declared that last month's ceasefire between the two countries was "over".
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
Iran's Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has promised to avenge the killing of his father, while U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran and Washington had agreed to continue talks despite an escalation of hostilities this week.
The U.S. has launched fresh strikes on Iran after Tehran targeted a container ship and said it had again closed the Strait of Hormuz. Iran also claimed to have expanded attacks on U.S. military facilities across the Gulf.
Typhoon Bavi pummelled Japan's southern Sakishima island chain with heavy rain and violent winds on Saturday as it headed towards Taiwan, prompting authorities to warn of the risks of floods and landslides.
The 4th Shusha Global Media Forum will bring together nearly 160 media leaders, experts and officials from 54 countries in Azerbaijan's historic city of Shusha on 13-14 July, to discuss journalism’s role in peacebuilding, restoring public trust and tackling challenges.
Two men were killed and six other people were injured in a shooting at Toronto's Salsa on St. Clair festival on Saturday night, police said.
Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief. Here are the top news stories for the 12 July, covering the latest developments you need to know.
U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, one of President Donald Trump’s most prominent allies in Congress, has died following a brief and sudden illness. He was 71-years-old.
Five major carmakers have largely won the first stage of a major legal battle at a High Court case brought by around 1.6 million claimants in the UK over allegations that their diesel vehicles were fitted with unlawful "defeat devices" that led to higher emissions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment