Switzerland votes on population cap after controversial proposal by far-right party
Swiss people voted on the proposed population cap on Sunday (Getty)
Swiss voters have largely rejected a proposal to cap the country’s population at 10 million by 2050, with preliminary results indicating nearly 54 per cent voted against the measure and a turnout exceeding 57 per cent nationwide.
The initiative was put forward by the far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which has historically fostered anti-migration sentiment, and aimed to curb immigration.
Had the proposal passed, it would have mandated the government to restrict asylum, family reunification, and residency permits if the population reached 9.5 million before 2050, potentially also scrapping Switzerland’s EU deal on the free movement of people.
Critics, including the federal government and Parliament, warned that implementing such a cap would severely damage key Swiss economic sectors such as healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals, and technology, and weaken crucial ties with the European Union.
Since Switzerland and the EU eased restrictions on cross-border living and working in 2002, the Swiss population has grown by 23 per cent to 9.1 million, while economic output has also increased by 24 per cent.
