A narrow majority of Swiss citizens are reportedly backing a controversial proposal to cap the country's population at 10 million, with support for the measure growing ahead of a crucial referendum.
Proposal and Opposition
The initiative, championed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), is set to go before voters on 14 June. However, the government has voiced strong opposition, warning that such a limit would jeopardise cooperation with the European Union and harm the economy by restricting the labour market.
Public Support and Concerns
Despite official warnings, concerns over rapid population growth and increasing pressure on public infrastructure are driving many Swiss to support the proposal. Switzerland's population currently exceeds 9 million, with official data indicating that foreign nationals constituted over 27 per cent of residents by 2024.
An opinion poll conducted by media group Tamedia, in collaboration with '20 Minuten' and polling institute Leewas, revealed that 52 per cent of 16,176 respondents were either in favour or leaning towards supporting the proposal. Conversely, 46 per cent opposed it, while the remainder offered no opinion.
Polling Details
The survey was carried out on 22 and 23 April and published in the Tages-Anzeiger newspaper. A previous poll from early March had shown 45 per cent backing the initiative and 47 per cent against it, the newspaper said, flagging the latest result as unusual in that Swiss referendum proposals generally lose support as the voting day comes closer. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 3 percentage points.
Key Provisions
Under the proposal, the permanent resident population must not exceed 10 million before 2050, and Switzerland should abandon its freedom of movement agreement with the EU.
Political Context
Swiss lawmakers are debating a Swiss-EU deal struck in late 2024 to deepen economic ties, after a challenging 2025 that saw Switzerland unexpectedly hit with the highest US trade tariffs in Europe. The SVP, Switzerland's biggest party, opposes closer integration with the EU, seeing it as a threat to Swiss sovereignty and a source of excess regulation.
Critics — across much of the rest of the political spectrum — say the proposal oversimplifies a complex issue: namely that Switzerland benefits from its ties to its neighbors, especially four bordering EU countries Austria, France, Germany and Italy. For example, they say Switzerland often relies on foreign workers at hospitals, hotels, construction sites and universities, and any such restrictions on migration and free movement of people would violate Switzerland’s existing international commitments.
Switzerland is part of Europe's Schengen zone, created over four decades ago, that today brings together some 29 countries that allow visa-free circulation. Most are European Union members: Switzerland, as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are not. The area brings together some 450 million people.
