Switzerland Rejects Plan to Limit Population Growth

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Geneva: Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to limit the country's population to 10 million by 2050, throwing a blow to anti-immigrant campaigners while maintaining Switzerland's close ties with the European Union. Preliminary results suggested that nearly 55% of voters rejected the proposition, while approximately 45% supported it.

The referendum, which was supported by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), aimed to limit immigration and oblige authorities to take action if the population exceeded 9.5 million by 2050. The idea may also have required Switzerland to terminate its free movement deal with the EU if its population exceeded 10 million.

Strict restrictions, according to the Swiss government, industry associations, and trade unions, would harm the economy, worsen workforce shortages, and damage ties with the EU, Switzerland's biggest trading partner. In industries like healthcare, hospitality, and business, foreign labour are essential.

Since free movement accords with the EU were introduced in 2002, immigration has contributed significantly to Switzerland's current population of approximately 9.1 million. The outcome demonstrated ongoing public concerns about housing, infrastructure, and migration even though the vote rejected a strict restriction.