Proponents of the initiative argued that Switzerland “doesn’t stretch,” blaming mass immigration for causing overcrowding
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to cap the population as concerns over economic damage trumped immigration fears in what some called the country’s Brexit moment.
The proposal, put to a referendum on Sunday, aimed to limit Switzerland’s population to 10 million by 2050. According to government figures, 55% of those taking part rejected the initiative, with 45% voting in favor.
The right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), a longtime critic of mass immigration and close ties with the EU, launched the referendum. If passed, the government would have guaranteed that permanent residency – now about 9.1 million – stays below the threshold. Approaching the limit would have forced Bern to scrap its free-movement pact with the EU. Although not a member of the EU, Switzerland has maintained a free-movement agreement with the bloc since 2002.
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