Voters in Switzerland blocked an anti-immigration proposal aimed at limiting the country’s population on Sunday, bringing relief to many authorities and economic stakeholders. The proposal aimed at implementing measures to cap the population by 2050 through restricting asylum, family reunification, and residency permits, if it reached 9.5 million before that deadline.
Preliminary projections showed that almost 55 per cent of the voters were against the “No to a Switzerland with 10 million!” initiative, which was backed by the hard-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP).
Associated Press quoted the Justice Minister Beat Jans, who welcomed the results, stating that the vote had “sent a signal of stability, openness, and reliability”.
SVP, which currently holds the most seats in the parliament, has been consistently vocal regarding concerns over immigration, specifically the migration of workers from neighbouring countries belonging to the European Union.
Switzerland has seen a spike in its population by almost a quarter over the past generation. Foreign nationals currently occupy one-third of the country’s demographic.
According to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Switzerland’s foreign-born populations accounted for 32 per cent in 2024, standing only behind Luxembourg and Australia among its 38 member countries.
SVP introduced the proposal as a “sustainability initiative”, stressing that the nation’s infrastructure, housing, social services, natural resources, and way of life had come under pressure from rapid population growth.
Many criticised the “No to a Switzerland with 10 million!” movement, calling it a “Swiss Brexit” over concerns that it could damage Switzerland’s ties with the European Union. Opposers also warned that the plan could create chaos in the country, especially during a time in which anti-immigration sentiment across the continent is at an all-time high.
Referendums in Switzerland are typically held four times a year, allowing citizens to have a direct role in policymaking. Citizens usually cast their votes by mail, while in-person voting closes at noon local time on Sunday.
