Swiss voters set to vote on capping population at 10 million
Euronews.com • • world
Key Points:
- Swiss citizens will vote on the ‘No to a Switzerland with 10 million!’ initiative, which aims to cap the national population below 10 million until 2050, proposed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) after gathering 100,000 signatures.
- The SVP frames the initiative as a sustainability measure to alleviate pressure on housing, public services, and the environment caused by immigration, as Switzerland’s population reached approximately 9.1 million in 2025, with 27% non-citizens.
- If the population exceeds 9.5 million, the initiative would compel parliament to restrict asylum and family reunification, and surpassing 10 million would end free movement agreements with the EU, risking major economic and trade ties.
- The government and major business groups oppose the initiative, warning it would damage the economy, exacerbate labor shortages in sectors like healthcare and hospitality, and jeopardize Switzerland’s vital access to the European market.
- Experts highlight that many Swiss industries depend on foreign specialists, especially from the EU, and that the proposal would not resolve issues like housing or traffic but could undermine national prosperity and key international agreements.