Switzerland votes on right-wing bid to cap country’s population
Key takeaways
- A ‘yes’ vote would force the government to restrict asylum and residency permits, and scrap Switzerland’s EU deal on the free movement of people.
- Final ballots were cast on Sunday, after the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) put the measure forward, having fanned anti-migration sentiment over the years.
- Driven by concerns on immigration, pressure on public services and housing, the constitutional change pitched by the SVP would mandate that the population must not exceed 10 million by 2050.
Why this matters: an international story with cross-border implications worth tracking.
A ‘yes’ vote would force the government to restrict asylum and residency permits, and scrap Switzerland’s EU deal on the free movement of people.
xwhatsapp-strokecopylinkgoogle Add Al Jazeera on Googleinfo. This photograph shows campaign posters for and against a nationwide vote on an anti-immigration initiative, reading (L and R) "No to a Switzerland of 10 million!" and (C) "Without her, there would be no care," in Geneva [AFP]By Reuters and The Associated Press Published On 14 Jun 202614 Jun 2026Switzerland is holding a vote championed by the main right-wing party to cap the country’s population at 10 million, a move that could jeopardise its relations with the European Union.
Final ballots were cast on Sunday, after the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) put the measure forward, having fanned anti-migration sentiment over the years.