Arabic version: الناخبون السويسريون يرفضون اقتراح تحديد عدد السكان في استطلاع حديث

According to BBC News,

Voters in Switzerland have rejected a proposal to limit the country’s population to 10 million, early projections suggest. Approximately 55% of participants voted against the measure, which was championed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, while 45% supported it.

The proposal sought to curb immigration as a means to alleviate pressure on public services and the environment. However, many voters expressed concerns that such a cap might jeopardize Switzerland’s free movement agreement with the European Union, which is crucial for the nation’s economy and access to the EU market.

Switzerland’s population has grown rapidly since 2002, reaching 9.1 million, with 27% of residents born abroad. The Swiss People’s Party argued that the population cap was necessary to address issues such as housing shortages and strained social services. However, critics dismissed these claims, suggesting that blaming immigration for societal problems leads to division rather than solutions.

Business leaders and economists voiced fears that the proposal’s approval could lead to labor shortages, particularly in sectors reliant on foreign workers, such as healthcare and tourism. They emphasized that a stable relationship with the EU is vital for Switzerland’s economy, as over half of Swiss products are exported to the European market.

The outcome of the vote reflects the complexities of immigration policy in Switzerland, where direct democracy allows citizens to vote on significant issues. The rejection of this proposal indicates a preference for maintaining the current immigration framework and its associated economic benefits.