Swiss voters have rejected an unprecedented far-right proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million. Projections indicate that approximately 55% of voters opposed the initiative, while 45% were in favor. The referendum, which was likened to Britain's Brexit vote, sought to limit population growth in a move that reflected growing anti-immigration sentiment across Europe.
The proposal, put forward by the Swiss People's party (SVP), would have required the government to implement restrictions to limit the population by 2050. If the population reached 9.5 million before that date, the government would have been forced to enact tough restrictions on asylum, residency permits, and family reunification. The measure was framed around sustainability and affordability, following a population increase of more than a quarter since 2000.
Critics and Swiss ministers warned that the initiative could have had devastating consequences for the economy and sparked a diplomatic clash with the European Union. There were significant concerns that a yes vote would jeopardize the free movement of labor and damage deep ties anchored by deals that foster cross-border travel, cultural ties, and economic growth.