Switzerland\u00a0will\u00a0vote\u00a0on\u00a0capping\u00a0its\u00a0population\u00a0at\u00a010mn\u00a0until\u00a02050,\u00a0a\u00a0proposal\u00a0that\u00a0speaks\u00a0to\u00a0widespread\u00a0concerns\u00a0about\u00a0high\u00a0\u200cimmigration\u00a0but\u00a0risks\u00a0depriving\u00a0the\u00a0country\u00a0of\u00a0much-needed\u00a0workers\u00a0and\u00a0shattering\u00a0relations\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0European\u00a0Union.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
A\u00a0\u200bpopular\u00a0vote\u00a0is\u00a0set\u00a0for\u00a0June\u00a0\u200c14,\u00a0the\u00a0government\u00a0said\u00a0this\u00a0week.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0initiative,\u00a0launched\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0right-wing\u00a0\u200cSwiss\u00a0People\u2019s\u00a0Party\u00a0(SVP),\u00a0wants\u00a0to\u00a0write\u00a0into\u00a0Switzerland\u2019s\u00a0constitution\u00a0\u200cthat\u00a0the\u00a0permanent\u00a0resident\u00a0population\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0country\u00a0\u200cshall\u00a0not\u00a0exceed\u00a010mn\u00a0people\u00a0before\u00a02050.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In\u00a0subsequent\u00a0years,\u00a0the\u00a0limit\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0adjusted\u00a0annually\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0Swiss\u00a0government\u00a0to\u00a0account\u00a0for\u00a0any\u00a0birth\u00a0surplus.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Under\u00a0the\u00a0slogan\u00a0\u201cpreserving\u00a0what\u00a0we\u00a0love,\u201d\u00a0backers\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0initiative\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0limit\u00a0options\u00a0for\u00a0asylum-seekers\u00a0and\u00a0their\u00a0families\u00a0to\u00a0permanently\u00a0reside\u00a0in\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0if\u00a0the\u00a0population\u00a0exceeds\u00a09.5mn\u00a0people\u00a0before\u00a02050.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In\u00a0that\u00a0event,\u00a0the\u00a0Swiss\u00a0government\u00a0\u201cshall\u00a0also\u00a0seek\u00a0to\u00a0renegotiate\u00a0international\u00a0agreements\u00a0that\u00a0drive\u00a0population\u00a0growth,\u201d\u00a0according\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0proposal.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
If\u00a0the\u00a010mn\u00a0threshold\u00a0is\u00a0permanently\u00a0crossed,\u00a0authorities\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0required\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0all\u00a0available\u00a0measures\u00a0to\u00a0comply\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0limit.\u00a0That\u00a0explicitly\u00a0includes\u00a0terminating\u00a0a\u00a0key\u00a0agreement\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0\u200bEU\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0free\u00a0movement\u00a0of\u00a0people.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Switzerland\u2019s\u00a0population\u00a0has\u00a0risen\u00a0rapidly\u00a0this\u00a0century,\u00a0stirring\u00a0concern\u00a0that\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0is\u00a0being\u00a0stretched,\u00a0rents\u00a0are\u00a0too\u00a0high,\u00a0and\u00a0wages\u00a0under\u00a0pressure.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
While\u00a0the\u00a0population\u00a0only\u00a0passed\u00a07mn\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0\u200cmid-1990s,\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0now\u00a0over\u00a09mn,\u00a0growing\u00a0faster\u00a0than\u00a0in\u00a0\u200bmost\u00a0neighbouring\u00a0countries\u00a0and\u00a0putting\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0on\u00a0track\u00a0to\u00a0hit\u00a0the\u00a0SVP\u00a0threshold\u00a0before\u00a0mid-century.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
SVP,\u00a0which\u00a0\u200bis\u00a0the\u00a0largest\u00a0force\u00a0in\u00a0parliament,\u00a0has\u00a0long\u00a0capitalised\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0issue,\u00a0making\u00a0anti-immigration\u00a0rhetoric\u00a0a\u00a0cornerstone\u00a0of\u00a0its\u00a0political\u00a0campaigns.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Eager\u00a0to\u00a0quell\u00a0calls\u00a0for\u00a0population\u00a0curbs,\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0has\u00a0secured\u00a0a\u00a0\u201cprotection\u00a0clause\u201d\u00a0in\u00a0its\u00a0trade\u00a0negotiations\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0EU,\u00a0already\u00a0testing\u00a0the\u00a0single\u00a0market\u2019s\u00a0principle\u00a0of\u00a0free\u00a0movement\u00a0of\u00a0people.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Much\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0population\u00a0increase\u00a0in\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0has\u00a0been\u00a0due\u00a0to\u00a0growth\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0workforce\u00a0driven\u00a0by\u00a0its\u00a0business-friendly,\u00a0low-tax\u00a0model\u00a0and\u00a0higher\u00a0wages.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a0government\u00a0argues\u00a0that,\u00a0even\u00a0before\u00a0the\u00a0long-term\u00a02050\u00a0timeframe,\u00a0the\u00a0initiative\u00a0would\u00a0start\u00a0jeopardising\u00a0prosperity\u00a0and\u00a0straining\u00a0EU-Switzerland\u00a0ties\u00a0which\u00a0are\u00a0vital\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0local\u00a0economy.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Its\u00a0acceptance\u00a0would\u00a0require\u00a0a\u00a0fundamental\u00a0realignment\u00a0of\u00a0Swiss\u00a0migration\u00a0policy\u00a0and\u00a0Swiss\u00a0relations\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0EU,\u00a0the\u00a0governing\u00a0\u200cFederal\u00a0Council\u00a0added.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Business\u00a0association\u00a0Economisuisse\u00a0has\u00a0\u200ctermed\u00a0the\u00a0proposal\u00a0\u201cthe\u00a0chaos\u00a0initiative\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cOur\u00a0country\u00a0will\u00a0continue\u00a0to\u00a0depend\u00a0on\u00a0labour\u00a0migration\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0future,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0group\u00a0said\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0joint\u00a0paper\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Swiss\u00a0Employers\u00a0Association,\u00a0predicting\u00a0that\u00a0without\u00a0foreign\u00a0workers,\u00a0companies\u00a0would\u00a0relocate\u00a0abroad.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
Opponents\u00a0have\u00a0warned\u00a0of\u00a0labour\u00a0shortages\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0healthcare\u00a0system,\u00a0public\u00a0transport,\u00a0restaurants\u00a0and\u00a0construction.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
While\u00a0the\u00a0Federal\u00a0Council,\u00a0most\u00a0political\u00a0parties\u00a0and\u00a0business\u00a0associations\u00a0oppose\u00a0the\u00a0proposal,\u00a0two\u00a0polls\u00a0published\u00a0last\u00a0year\u00a0found\u00a0narrow\u00a0popular\u00a0majorities\u00a0in\u00a0favour\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0initiative.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In\u00a0November,\u00a048%\u00a0of\u00a0surveyed\u00a0voters\u00a0said\u00a0they\u00a0were\u00a0in\u00a0favour\u00a0or\u00a0inclined\u00a0to\u00a0be\u00a0in\u00a0favour\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0SVP\u00a0project\u00a0in\u00a0a\u00a0poll\u00a0by\u00a0research\u00a0institute\u00a0\u200bLeeWas\u00a0on\u00a0behalf\u00a0of\u00a0two\u00a0newspapers,\u00a0with\u00a041%\u00a0of\u00a0respondents\u00a0against\u00a0and\u00a011%\u00a0still\u00a0undecided.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In\u00a0June\u00a0and\u00a0July,\u00a0a\u00a0survey\u00a0by\u00a0research\u00a0company\u00a0Sotomo\u00a0on\u00a0behalf\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0Swiss\u00a0Trade\u00a0Union\u00a0Federation\u00a0also\u00a0found\u00a0that\u00a048%\u00a0of\u00a0respondents\u00a0intended\u00a0to\u00a0vote\u00a0\u201cyes\u201d\u00a0or\u00a0\u201cprobably\u00a0yes\u201d,\u00a0with\u00a045%\u00a0planning\u00a0to\u00a0vote\u00a0\u201cno\u201d\u00a0or\u00a0\u201cprobably\u00a0no\u201d,\u00a0and\u00a07%\u00a0undecided.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
The\u00a010mn\u00a0population\u00a0cap\u00a0has\u00a0a\u00a0good\u00a0chance\u00a0of\u00a0being\u00a0accepted,\u00a0Sotomo\u00a0concluded\u00a0at\u00a0the\u00a0time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cA\u00a0decline\u00a0in\u00a0support\u00a0during\u00a0the\u00a0referendum\u00a0campaign\u00a0–\u00a0as\u00a0is\u00a0common\u00a0with\u00a0other\u00a0initiatives\u00a0–\u00a0is\u00a0by\u00a0no\u00a0means\u00a0certain,\u201d\u00a0the\u00a0researchers\u00a0added,\u00a0noting\u00a0concerns\u00a0over\u00a0immigration\u00a0would\u00a0likely\u00a0be\u00a0sharpened\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0referendum\u00a0campaign\u00a0itself.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n
In\u00a02014,\u00a0a\u00a0similar\u00a0proposal\u00a0for\u00a0\u200cstrict\u00a0immigration\u00a0limits\u00a0passed\u00a0a\u00a0\u200bpopular\u00a0vote\u00a0but\u00a0was\u00a0never\u00a0fully\u00a0implemented.\u00a0It\u00a0is\u00a0unclear\u00a0how\u00a0the\u00a010mn\u00a0cap,\u00a0if\u00a0accepted,\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0put\u00a0into\u00a0practice.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Switzerland\u00a0will\u00a0vote\u00a0on\u00a0capping\u00a0its\u00a0population\u00a0at\u00a010mn\u00a0until\u00a02050,\u00a0a\u00a0proposal\u00a0that\u00a0speaks\u00a0to\u00a0widespread\u00a0concerns\u00a0about\u00a0high\u00a0\u200cimmigration\u00a0but\u00a0risks\u00a0depriving\u00a0the\u00a0country\u00a0of\u00a0much-needed\u00a0workers\u00a0and\u00a0shattering\u00a0relations\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0European\u00a0Union. \u00a0 A\u00a0\u200bpopular\u00a0vote\u00a0is\u00a0set\u00a0for\u00a0June\u00a0\u200c14,\u00a0the\u00a0government\u00a0said\u00a0this\u00a0week. \u00a0 The\u00a0initiative,\u00a0launched\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0right-wing\u00a0\u200cSwiss\u00a0People\u2019s\u00a0Party\u00a0(SVP),\u00a0wants\u00a0to\u00a0write\u00a0into\u00a0Switzerland\u2019s\u00a0constitution\u00a0\u200cthat\u00a0the\u00a0permanent\u00a0resident\u00a0population\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0country\u00a0\u200cshall\u00a0not\u00a0exceed\u00a010mn\u00a0people\u00a0before\u00a02050. \u00a0 In\u00a0subsequent\u00a0years,\u00a0the\u00a0limit\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0adjusted\u00a0annually\u00a0by\u00a0the\u00a0Swiss\u00a0government\u00a0to\u00a0account\u00a0for\u00a0any\u00a0birth\u00a0surplus. \u00a0 Under\u00a0the\u00a0slogan\u00a0\u201cpreserving\u00a0what\u00a0we\u00a0love,\u201d\u00a0backers\u00a0of\u00a0the\u00a0initiative\u00a0want\u00a0to\u00a0limit\u00a0options\u00a0for\u00a0asylum-seekers\u00a0and\u00a0their\u00a0families\u00a0to\u00a0permanently\u00a0reside\u00a0in\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0if\u00a0the\u00a0population\u00a0exceeds\u00a09.5mn\u00a0people\u00a0before\u00a02050. \u00a0 In\u00a0that\u00a0event,\u00a0the\u00a0Swiss\u00a0government\u00a0\u201cshall\u00a0also\u00a0seek\u00a0to\u00a0renegotiate\u00a0international\u00a0agreements\u00a0that\u00a0drive\u00a0population\u00a0growth,\u201d\u00a0according\u00a0to\u00a0the\u00a0proposal. \u00a0 If\u00a0the\u00a010mn\u00a0threshold\u00a0is\u00a0permanently\u00a0crossed,\u00a0authorities\u00a0would\u00a0be\u00a0required\u00a0to\u00a0take\u00a0all\u00a0available\u00a0measures\u00a0to\u00a0comply\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0limit.\u00a0That\u00a0explicitly\u00a0includes\u00a0terminating\u00a0a\u00a0key\u00a0agreement\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0\u200bEU\u00a0on\u00a0the\u00a0free\u00a0movement\u00a0of\u00a0people. \u00a0 Switzerland\u2019s\u00a0population\u00a0has\u00a0risen\u00a0rapidly\u00a0this\u00a0century,\u00a0stirring\u00a0concern\u00a0that\u00a0infrastructure\u00a0is\u00a0being\u00a0stretched,\u00a0rents\u00a0are\u00a0too\u00a0high,\u00a0and\u00a0wages\u00a0under\u00a0pressure. \u00a0 While\u00a0the\u00a0population\u00a0only\u00a0passed\u00a07mn\u00a0in\u00a0the\u00a0\u200cmid-1990s,\u00a0it\u00a0is\u00a0now\u00a0over\u00a09mn,\u00a0growing\u00a0faster\u00a0than\u00a0in\u00a0\u200bmost\u00a0neighbouring\u00a0countries\u00a0and\u00a0putting\u00a0Switzerland\u00a0on\u00a0track\u00a0to\u00a0hit\u00a0the\u00a0SVP\u00a0threshold\u00a0before\u00a0mid-century. \u00a0…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":8009,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[4],"tags":[6305,2940,3006,2691,599,2878,41,17,3686,6306],"class_list":["post-8008","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-switzerland","tag-gulf","tag-immigration","tag-migration","tag-population","tag-qatar","tag-referendum","tag-swiss","tag-switzerland","tag-times","tag-viewpoint"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8008","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8008"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/8008\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/8009"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8008"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=8008"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ch\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=8008"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}