Swiss Voters Reject Population Cap Proposal, Prioritizing Economic Stability and EU Relations

(Central News Agency, Zurich, 14th -综合外电报道) Swiss voters today rejected a referendum proposal to cap the population at 10 million, prioritizing economic stability and relations with the European Union over concerns that immigration could strain public services and drive up rents.

According to Reuters, the proposal, led by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, sought to limit Switzerland's population to no more than 10 million by 2050. If the cap were exceeded for two consecutive years, Switzerland would terminate its free movement of people agreement with the EU.

Preliminary nationwide vote results show nearly 55% of Swiss voters opposed the proposal, while 45% supported it.

As reported by the Associated Press, the populist Swiss People's Party has long fueled anti-immigration sentiment, particularly targeting the influx of workers from neighboring EU countries.

The proposal was dubbed a 'Swiss Brexit' by some, as it threatened to undermine the deep ties between Switzerland and the EU—built on agreements promoting economic growth, cultural connections, and cross-border travel. Although not a member of the EU’s 27 nations, Switzerland is almost entirely surrounded by four EU countries.

The Swiss government urged voters to reject the cap. Justice Minister Beat Jans welcomed the outcome and pledged that the government would further examine public concerns regarding housing and immigration.

Speaking at a press conference alongside President Guy Parmelin, Jans said: 'Today’s decision sends a signal of stability, openness, and reliability from the voters.'

Urs Bieri of polling agency GFS Bern analyzed that while population growth is a widespread concern in Swiss society, more voters feared the proposal would damage EU relations and make it harder to recruit essential labor, such as care workers.

Switzerland’s population currently stands at 9.1 million, growing at a much faster pace than neighboring EU countries. Foreign nationals make up about 28% of the total population, and official projections suggest the country will reach 10 million by the early 2040s.

The business community welcomed the referendum result. Companies had previously warned that a population cap would restrict access to foreign labor, harm the economy, and worsen relations with Brussels.

Swiss business lobby group Economiesuisse urged the government to leverage the momentum from this vote to swiftly ratify the bilateral economic agreement reached with Brussels in late 2024, aimed at deepening economic ties.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stated that Brussels and Bern would continue working together to benefit citizens and businesses on both sides. (Compiled by: Ho Hung-Ju) 1150615