According to Deutsche Welle, the so-called “sustainability initiative” of the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) received a clear rejection in the referendum. Around 55 percent of eligible voters opposed the proposal to limit Switzerland’s population to ten million by 2050. 45 percent voted in favor.
The SVP had presented the initiative as a measure to protect resources and relieve pressure on local transport. In reality, it aimed to curb migration: if necessary, asylum and family reunification were to be restricted, and in extreme cases, even the free movement of EU citizens. In rural cantons such as Appenzell Innerrhoden, the initiative found nearly 66 percent approval, while cities clearly rejected it.
Currently, around 9.1 million people live in Switzerland, including about 340,000 Germans. Cédric Wermuth, co-chair of the Social Democrats, expressed relief and said: “During the campaign, I sensed that many people are fed up with this constant divisiveness, blaming migrants for everything.”
Source: www.dw.com
