Population cap in Switzerland to go to referendum
Switzerland will vote later this year for a proposed population cap of 10 million people, a proposal from the far-right Swiss People’s party (SVP). The move, opponents say, could harm the country’s economy and threatens agreements with the EY.
The referendum is strongly opposed by both chambers of parliament and as well as the business and financial service communities, according to The Guardian. The referendum on the party’s “No to a 10 million Switzerland” will be held on 10th June 2026.
If the referendum succeeds, it would force the government and parliament to act if the permanent population of 9.1 million exceeds 9.5 million through the denial of entrance to foreigners including asylum seekers and the families of foreign residents. If the population does exceed the population cap of 10 million, additional restrictions would come into effect and if the numbers do not fall, the government would be required to pull Switzerland out of the free-movement agreement with the EU, the biggest export market for the country.
The country’s population has risen five times faster than the average in neighbouring countries over the past decade. Its economic success has seen both low-skilled workers and “highly paid corporate expats” enter the country, The Guardian reports.
Around a quarter of residents are not citizens, government figures show, and the SVP says the “population explosion” is impacting rents and pushing services and public infrastructure to its limit.
Switzerland runs on a direct democracy system in which citizens propose ‘popular initiatives.’ If they receive 100,000 backers within 19 months, they are put up to a referendum.
A December poll shows that 38% of voters support the “No to a 10 million Switzerland” ballot.
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