Swiss voters reject 10 million population cap initiative

Swiss voters have rejected a national initiative to limit the country's population to 10 million people. The proposal, put forth by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), sought to reduce immigration. The outcome has brought significant relief to the Liberal Democratic Party (PLR), which spearheaded the federal campaign against the initiative.

Philippe Nantermod, a national councilor and key figure in the campaign, expressed his relief, calling the result a "surprise in its magnitude." He admitted that while polls had indicated a potential rejection, the margin of victory for the "no" vote exceeded expectations. Nantermod stated that he had "mouillé la chemise," or put in significant effort, to ensure the initiative's defeat, engaging with the public and on social media.

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This result is a surprise in its magnitude. I thought it would be a bit closer than this. But if one followed the polls closely, it is not a complete surprise, as a 'no' could be expected. I would say it is rather a relief.

Nantermod described the campaign as one of the most challenging of his political career. He noted that internal party polls had suggested a divided base on the issue, contrasting with the unified stance of the party's leadership and elected officials. The success in defeating the initiative is seen as a positive sign for the party's future direction.

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This campaign was one of the most difficult of my political career.