Swiss voters rejected an initiative supported by the right-wing Swiss People's Party that aimed to limit the country's population to 10 million. According to the first official results, about 53% of votes were against the proposal.
With a turnout exceeding 57%, results continued to come in from many cantons across the country, showing the proposal was defeated. Recent polls by Gfs. Bern had indicated the vote could be very close.
What Did the Proposal Entail?
If approved, the federal government would have been required to implement measures to limit immigration in order to stabilize the population by 2050. If the population reached 9.5 million before the target date, stricter restrictions on asylum applications, family reunifications, and residence permits would have been introduced.
The proposal also risked Switzerland's agreement with the European Union on the free movement of people. For this reason, some described the initiative as "Switzerland's Brexit."
Immigration Debate Moved to the Ballot Box
The Swiss People's Party (SVP), which holds the most seats in parliament, has long emphasized an anti-immigration stance, particularly against the influx of workers from neighboring EU countries. The party argued that rapid population growth strains infrastructure, housing, social programs, natural resources, and the way of life.
Opponents pointed out that immigration provides labor and expertise to sectors such as healthcare, finance, pharmaceuticals, and technology. The federal government, parliament, and the major business association EconomieSuisse also opposed the proposal.
Majority in Geneva Also Voted Against
Early results showed that about two-thirds of voters in the Geneva region, the country's second-largest city, opposed the measure. As the headquarters of UN institutions and humanitarian organizations, the city’s results represented one of the strongest rejections of the proposal.
Among voters, there were supporters of the initiative as well. Maria Lalu, of Filipino origin who came to Switzerland in the early 1980s, said she was not against immigration but wanted the process to be more orderly.
Schoolteacher Natascha Robert, who voted "no," expressed concern that Switzerland’s relations with the EU could be harmed. She emphasized that the country’s growing diversity is an asset.
Speaking in front of a polling station in the Paquis neighborhood, Robert said people continuously contribute to the country and argued that diversity does not weaken Swiss identity.
Direct Democracy at Work Once Again
In Switzerland, voters have a direct say in policymaking through referendums held four times a year. While most votes are cast by mail, in-person voting on Sunday ended at noon local time.
On the same day, another referendum approving amendments to the Civil Service Act was passed, adding six new measures to the law.
