10 million is the ceiling: the Swiss are ready to say stop migration / Foto ChatGPT
According to a survey published by the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper, 52% of respondents support the initiative or are inclined to approve it, while 46% oppose it. The poll was conducted on April 22-23 among more than 16 thousand people, and the statistical error was about three percentage points. It is noteworthy that in early March the balance of opinion was different: then there were fewer supporters of the initiative than opponents, Reuters writes.
The proposal, put forward by the right-wing party “Swiss People’s Party”, provides for the establishment of a rigid population ceiling – no more than 10 million people by 2050. To achieve this goal, the authors of the initiative suggest revising key international agreements, including an agreement on freedom of movement with the European Union.
The federal government has already opposed the initiative, warning of possible economic consequences. According to the authorities, restrictions on the inflow of labor could have a negative impact on the labor market and weaken the country’s position in relations with the EU.
Experts attribute the growing support for the initiative to the growing concern of citizens about the rapid increase in population and the strain on infrastructure and social systems. Currently, Switzerland’s population exceeds 9 million people, with the share of foreign nationals, according to official data, already exceeding 27%.
The issue is expected to be put to a popular vote on June 14. The outcome of the referendum could have a significant impact on both the country’s domestic politics and its relations with European partners.
