On Sunday (14th), Swiss voters rejected a proposal to set the population limit at 10 million. A majority of voters believed that economic stability and relations with the European Union were more important than immigration issues.
Preliminary results of the national referendum showed that nearly 55% of Swiss voters opposed the population cap proposal, while 45% were in favor.
Dubbed as the “Swiss Brexit referendum of 2016,” this vote had made businesses uneasy as people feared the proposal could end the free movement of labor between Switzerland and its main trading partner, the EU.
The proposal, championed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), stipulated that Switzerland’s population should not exceed 10 million by 2050; if it exceeded this limit for two consecutive years, Switzerland should terminate its free movement agreement with the EU.
The largest party in parliament expressed concerns that the rapid population growth had put heavy pressure on Switzerland’s infrastructure, housing, social welfare system, natural resources, and way of life.
Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans welcomed the voting results and promised to take further measures to address voters’ concerns about housing and immigration issues.
“With today’s decision, voters have sent a message of stability, openness, and reliability,” Jans said at a press conference attended with Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin.
Although Switzerland is not a member of the EU, it is surrounded by four EU member states. The current population of Switzerland is around 9.1 million, with foreigners making up nearly 28% of the total population. Official predictions suggest that the total population will reach 10 million by the early 2040s.
The proposal for a population cap comes at a time when policies to curb immigration in Europe are gaining increasing support. About 59% of Swiss voters participated in this referendum, significantly higher than the recent average of 48% for Swiss referendums.
Marcel Dettling, chairman of the People’s Party, said the initiative was highly popular in rural areas but was ultimately rejected by urban voters. He stated, “The referendum did not solve any problems, and we will continue to push for a rational immigration policy.”
After warning that the proposal could restrict foreign labor entry, harm the economy, and worsen relations with Brussels, Swiss business groups welcomed the referendum results.
“Economiesuisse” urged the Swiss government to utilize the referendum results to push for the approval of the agreement reached with Brussels by the end of 2024 to deepen bilateral economic relations.
EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Brussels and Bern would continue to work together to benefit citizens and businesses in both regions.
Green Party Federal Councilor Sibel Arslan stated that the voting results showed Switzerland’s commitment to cooperation with neighboring European countries. However, she warned that the discussion about population restrictions had become normalized, breaking a taboo that could resurface in the future.