Bern (Switzerland), June 14 (LaPresse) – Swiss citizens are voting today on an initiative promoted by the national-conservative SVP party to set a population cap of 10 million by 2050, in one of the most sensitive referendums in recent years on immigration. Supporters argue that demographic growth is putting pressure on infrastructure, the housing market, social services and quality of life. If approved, the measure would require the government to act to curb population growth by restricting residence permits, family reunification and asylum applications once the threshold of 9.5 million inhabitants is reached. The federal government and Parliament oppose the proposal, judging it harmful to the Swiss economy, which is heavily dependent on foreign labour in key sectors such as healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals and technology. There are also growing concerns about a weakening of relations with the European Union, the country’s main trading partner. Switzerland currently has around 9.1 million inhabitants and a foreign-born population of 32%, one of the highest shares among developed countries. Polls indicate a very close contest. If passed, it would be a historic precedent: no country has ever approved a population cap by referendum.
Switzerland: referendum vote on limiting population to 10 million
Bern (Switzerland), June 14 (LaPresse) – Swiss citizens are voting today on an initiative promoted by the national-conservative SVP party to set a population cap of 10 million by 2050, in one of the most sensitive referendums in recent years on immigration. Supporters argue that demographic growth is putting pressure on infrastructure, the housing market, social services and quality of life. If approved, the measure would require the government to act to curb population growth by restricting residence permits, family reunification and asylum applications once the threshold of 9.5 million inhabitants is reached. The federal government and Parliament oppose the proposal, judging it harmful to the Swiss economy, which is heavily dependent on foreign labour in key sectors such as healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals and technology. There are also growing concerns about a weakening of relations with the European Union, the country’s main trading partner. Switzerland currently has around 9.1 million inhabitants and a foreign-born population of 32%, one of the highest shares among developed countries. Polls indicate a very close contest. If passed, it would be a historic precedent: no country has ever approved a population cap by referendum.
