Switzerland holds Brexit-style referendum on 10 million population cap
Swiss voters decide on Sunday whether to back a proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million by 2050, a move that could impact EU relations and the economy.
Switzerland goes to the polls on Sunday in a referendum over a constitutional amendment that would limit the country's population to 10 million by 2050. The proposal, put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), is driven by concerns over immigration, pressure on public services and housing. Official projections suggest the population could reach 10 million by the early 2040s under current trends.
The vote has been likened to Britain's Brexit referendum due to its potential implications for Switzerland's relationship with the European Union. If adopted, the cap could force Switzerland to scrap its free movement of labour agreement with the EU, a key pillar of the single market. Switzerland's ageing population already exceeds 9 million, and opinion polls show a finely balanced public. A final survey indicated a shift against the proposal, while an earlier poll had suggested it might pass.
The government and parliament have urged voters to reject the SVP's so-called "sustainability initiative," calling it unwise at a delicate time for the export-oriented economy. Last year, the US imposed high tariffs on Swiss goods, and a population cap could complicate corporate planning. However, SVP lawmaker Thomas Matter argues that Switzerland's prosperity has not kept pace with immigration and that the country needs to slow down.
Under Switzerland's system of direct democracy, voters decide on national referendums four times a year, which also require a majority of cantons to pass. If the initiative is approved, parts of it, including the potential termination of free movement with the EU, could face their own referendums. Some SVP figures, like Heinz Taennler, say the proposal is not intended to stop free movement but to serve as a wake-up call for the government to take action.
In 2014, Swiss voters narrowly approved an SVP-backed proposal to curb EU immigration, but its impact was later diluted in the legislative process. Results of Sunday's vote are expected from around midday (1000 GMT).
