A majority of Swiss appear to reject the proposal to impose a maximum population size in a referendum. According to a projection by the polling institute gfs.bern, 55 percent say ‘no’ to the 10 million target. The right-wing conservative and nationalist Swiss People’s Party (SVP/UDC), the largest party in the country, had had a referendum organized on the question.
Journalist at HLN
Source: Belga
The SVP wants to limit the Swiss population to 10 million by 2050. The country currently has 9.1 million inhabitants, of which migrants make up more than a quarter.
If the population were to reach 9.5 million inhabitants by 2050, family reunifications and new asylum applications would be limited. This would allow approximately 40,000 immigrants to enter the country every year.
“Our own Brexit”
If the population rises above 10 million, Switzerland would have to end the free movement of people with the European Union. This would jeopardize cooperation with the largest export market. Due to the so-called ‘guillotine clause’, all bilateral agreements lapse if an agreement is terminated.
In order for the proposal to be adopted, a majority of the population as well as the 26 cantons had to agree. The initiative was previously rejected by government, parliament, trade unions and employers’ organizations. “On June 14, Switzerland will face its own Brexit. If we vote ‘yes’, we will end up in isolation,” warned Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans.
Swiss referendums
Switzerland has a system of direct democracy, which allows citizens to propose so-called popular initiatives, provided they collect at least 100,000 signatures within 18 months.
Although referendums are held regularly, only 10 percent are adopted. A striking proposal that was approved by the Swiss was the ban on face-covering clothing in 2021.