Switzerland is gearing up for a significant vote to curb immigration to prevent the population from reaching 10 million before 2050, following the submission of enough signatures on Wednesday.
In Switzerland’s direct democracy system, triggering popular votes requires gathering 100,000 valid signatures within 18 months.
The hard-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) submitted 114,600 signatures to the Federal Chancellery in Bern, accomplishing this task in half the allotted time.
The SVP, Switzerland’s largest party, emphasized the urgency of the initiative to safeguard the country’s unique landscape, high quality of life, and economic prosperity.
The proposal seeks to amend the Swiss constitution to limit the permanent resident population to 10 million by 2050.
At the end of 2022, Switzerland’s population stood at 8.82 million, with foreigners comprising a quarter of the population. The initiative defines the permanent resident population as Swiss nationals and foreigners with long-term residency or staying in the country for at least 12 months.
Should the population approach 9.5 million before 2050, the government and parliament would implement measures to ensure compliance, particularly concerning asylum and family reunification.
Failure to manage population growth could lead to the termination of the free movement agreement with the EU, despite Switzerland not being an EU member.
The initiative comes amid negotiations between Switzerland and the EU, highlighting concerns over immigration-related issues such as housing shortages, traffic congestion, and strains on public services.
The SVP, historically rooted in rural areas, has evolved into a national force opposing mass immigration, closer EU ties, and the erosion of Swiss neutrality.
The party’s new leader, Marcel Dettling, emphasized the need for controlled immigration beneficial to the country and its population.
Despite projections indicating a potential population increase to 10.4 million by 2050, the SVP remains committed to addressing immigration-related challenges through democratic processes.
YOU MAY ALSO READ: Us court rules against AI-Enhanced evidence in Judicial Defence