Swiss Voters Reject 10 Million Population Cap With 55% No Vote
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · Jun 14
Swiss Voters Reject 10 Million Population Cap With 55% No Vote
3 articles · Updated · BBC.com · Jun 14
Summary
Early projections showed 55% of Swiss voters rejecting a proposal to cap the population at 10 million, defeating a flagship anti-immigration measure backed by the Swiss People’s Party.
The result preserves Switzerland’s free-movement agreement with the EU, which would likely have been terminated if the cap had passed.
Business leaders and employers had warned the measure could cut off needed workers in tourism, hospitals and care homes while threatening access to Europe’s single market, which buys more than half of Swiss exports.
The vote came after Switzerland’s population grew from 7.3 million in 2002 to 9.1 million today, with foreign-born residents making up 27%, fueling debate over housing, transport and public services.