The right-wing party behind the initiative says the rising number of citizens is causing a decline in living standards
The Swiss public will head to the polls in the summer to decide if the country needs a 10 million population cap, the government has said.
Switzerland’s population has grown around five times faster than in neighboring EU countries over the past decade, as the wealthy state has attracted large numbers of both highly-qualified and low-skilled workers. The Alpine nation’s population reached more than 9.1 million in early February, according to official data.
The anti-immigrant Swiss People’s Party (SVP), which remains the most popular in the country since 1999, has argued that the “population explosion” is inflating housing prices, straining public services, and leading to an overall decline in living standards.
The “No to a 10 million Switzerland” initiative – proposed by the SVP to tackle the issue – earlier garnered the 100,000 signatures required for it to be brought to a vote under Switzerland’s system of direct democracy.
The referendum on the population cap will be held on June 14, the Swiss government confirmed on Wednesday.
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