The Swiss Parliament Building.
Getty Images / Bildagentur-online / Schoening / Universal Images Group
As reported by CNN and Euronews
In Switzerland, a referendum is planned for the summer on restricting the total population to 10 million people. Under the initiators’ plan, if the country crosses that threshold, the state will not be able to admit new migrants, including asylum seekers and family members of residents from other countries.
The idea comes from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which currently has the largest presence in Parliament. The party has gathered enough signatures on the petition to bring this issue to a nationwide vote scheduled for June 14 of this year.
If the proposal is supported by the Swiss, as soon as the population reaches 9.5 million, the government will be forced to deny entry to new arrivals, including asylum seekers and the families of foreign residents.
Reaching 10 million would require Switzerland to terminate the EU’s Free Movement of Persons agreement – the EU being the country’s largest trading partner.
The SVP argues that demographic growth places pressure on public services, strains infrastructure, and affects rental costs. It is one of the few forces in Parliament backing population limits, but prior sociological research indicates broad public support for this initiative.
Critics’ position
Critics say the proposal oversimplifies a complex issue. They add that foreign workers are needed in Swiss medical facilities, hotels, construction companies, and educational institutions, so any restrictions on migration and freedom of movement could violate existing international obligations.
“oversimplifies a complex issue”
– Critics of the initiative
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