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Swiss vote on capping population at 10 million
🇫🇮 Finland /Elections & Politics

Swiss vote on capping population at 10 million

From Helsingin Sanomat · () Finnish

Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified New plan
  • Swiss citizens will vote Sunday on whether to limit the country's population to 10 million.
  • The initiative, backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, aims to cap the resident population below 10 million by 2050, citing concerns about immigration's strain on resources.
  • Opponents warn the proposal could have unpredictable consequences and jeopardize existing agreements with the EU regarding free movement.

Swiss voters are heading to the polls Sunday to decide on a contentious initiative to cap the nation's population at 10 million. The proposal, driven by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), seeks to limit the permanently resident population to under 10 million by 2050, encompassing both foreign nationals and Swiss citizens.

Currently, Switzerland's population stands at 9.1 million, with projections indicating it could reach 10 million between 2033 and 2041. Recent opinion polls suggest a close contest. The country has experienced rapid population growth over the past 25 years, increasing from 7.2 million to its current figure, largely attributed to immigration. Statistics from the OECD reveal that nearly a third of Switzerland's population was born abroad, with most immigrants originating from Europe, drawn by high salaries and low taxes.

We have lost control. More and more people feel like strangers in their own country.

— Thomas MatterA national councilor from the SVP and one of the initiative's proponents, explaining the motivation behind the population limit proposal.

The SVP argues that immigration burdens the country, citing issues such as overcrowded public transport, strained housing markets, rising crime rates, and increased social welfare costs. The initiative distinguishes between asylum seekers and regular immigration, proposing initial measures targeting asylum seekers while still allowing up to 40,000 skilled workers to enter annually. "We have lost control. More and more people feel like strangers in their own country," said Thomas Matter, a national councilor from the SVP and one of the initiative's proponents, according to Swissinfo.

Critics have dubbed the initiative the "chaos initiative," fearing unpredictable outcomes if it passes. They argue that immigrants are integral to Switzerland's success model. Both chambers of the Swiss parliament oppose the initiative. Concerns also loom over potential repercussions for Switzerland's bilateral agreements with the EU on free movement and trade. Joseph de Weck, a columnist for The Guardian, suggested that the initiative, if enacted, could pave the way for the SVP's long-held ambition of unregulated free trade, envisioning "a kind of Alpine Dubai."

A kind of Alpine Dubai

— Joseph de WeckA columnist for The Guardian, speculating on the potential economic consequences of the initiative if it were to pass.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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