Switzerland to vote on plan to cap population at 10 million
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Bern: Switzerland is set to vote in a historic referendum to cap its permanent resident population at 10 million by 2050, a move that would require a drastic reduction in net migration.
Backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, the ‘Sustainability Initiative’ triggers emergency measures if the population reaches 9.5 million, forcing strict clamps on asylum and family reunification.
Should the population cross the final 10-million threshold, the government must terminate international treaties, most notably the European Union’s free-movement agreement.
Proponents argue that unchecked immigration overloads local public infrastructure and drives up housing costs. However, opponents and economic analysts warn that the policy could devastate Swiss prosperity, predicting labor shortages up to 12 percent across tech, healthcare, and hospitality.
Global giants like Roche, Novartis, and Google have expressed deep alarm at the prospect of losing access to vital foreign talent, turning the ballot into a high-stakes standoff over Switzerland's economic future.
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