Swiss Voters Reject Hard-Right Bid to Cap Population at 10 Million, Preserving EU Free Movement

Swiss voters have dismissed a proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million, with early projections suggesting a 55% to 45% vote against the measure. The initiative, championed by the anti-immigration Swiss People's Party, threatened to dismantle Switzerland's free movement agreement with the European Union.

The People's Party argued that a population cap was necessary to alleviate pressure on transport, housing, and the environment. However, critics, including business leaders and healthcare providers, warned that such a move would exacerbate labour shortages in vital sectors like tourism, hospitals, and care homes, which are heavily reliant on foreign workers.

Economiesuisse, Switzerland's business association, expressed significant alarm, highlighting that over half of all Swiss products are sold into the EU. Access to these markets is contingent upon Switzerland's adherence to the principle of free movement. Rudolf Minsch, chief economist at Economiesuisse, stated that passing the motion would have introduced considerable challenges to relations with the EU, which maintains that non-members cannot selectively benefit from the single market while rejecting core commitments.

Switzerland's population has expanded from 7.3 million in 2002 to 9.1 million currently, with 27% of residents born abroad. Opponents of the cap also pointed to an ageing Swiss population, with 20% now over 65, necessitating younger workers and taxpayers to support social services and the economy. The direct democratic system in Switzerland allows for nationwide votes on proposals that gather 100,000 signatures.