“In the summer in Switzerland, a proposal of the far-right Swiss People’s Party to limit the country’s population to 10 million will be put to a referendum.”, — write: www.pravda.com.ua
Switzerland flag. illustrative photo by Unsplash Source: “European truth” with reference to The Guardian
Details: The Swiss government has announced that a referendum on the SVP initiative “No to Switzerland of 10 million”, which is strongly opposed by both houses of parliament, as well as the business community and financial services, will take place on June 10.
Advertising:
If approved, the initiative would oblige the Swiss government and parliament to take action if the country’s permanent population of 9.1 million exceeds 9.5 million by denying entry to new arrivals, including asylum seekers and families of foreign residents.
If the population reaches 10 million, further restrictions will come into effect, and if the population does not begin to decline, the government will be forced to withdraw from the free movement agreement with the EU.
Over the past decade, Switzerland’s population has grown about five times faster than the average of neighboring EU member states, as its economic success has attracted both low-skilled workers and high-paid corporate expats.
According to the government, about 27% of Swiss residents are not citizens of the country.
The SVP, the country’s largest political party, says the “demographic explosion” is pushing up rents and overstretching infrastructure and services to the limit.
The party, which has won every election since 1999, has long campaigned against immigration.
The radical nationalist changes she often proposes, such as a 2016 proposal to automatically deport immigrants convicted of even minor offenses and a 2020 plan to end free movement from the EU, have generally not met with much success.
The Swiss system of direct democracy allows citizens to propose so-called popular initiatives, which are put to a referendum if they get 100,000 supporters within 18 months.
They are a favorite tool of the SVP, but only about 10% of people’s initiatives are passed.
However, a poll conducted in December showed broad support of 48% of voters for the “No to a Switzerland of 10 million” initiative, reflecting deeply divided opinions on how open the country wants and should be.