Switzerland will hold a referendum on 10 June on a far-right proposal to limit the country's population to 10 million, a move that opponents warn could threaten key agreements with the European Union and damage the economy. The initiative, brought by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), would oblige the government to restrict immigration if the permanent population exceeds 9.5 million, and ultimately to withdraw from the EU free-movement agreement if numbers reach 10 million.
Switzerland’s population currently stands at 9.1 million, having grown about five times faster than the average in neighbouring EU countries over the past decade. About 27% of residents are not Swiss citizens. The SVP argues that the 'population explosion' is driving up rents and straining public services, but the proposal is strongly opposed by both chambers of parliament and by business groups.
Opponents include multinationals such as Roche, UBS and Nestlé, as well as the Economiesuisse lobby, which has labelled the initiative the 'chaos initiative'. They say it would jeopardise bilateral agreements with the EU, notably the single-market access deal reached last year, on which much of Switzerland’s prosperity depends. Around half of all Swiss exports go to the EU.
The SVP, which has finished first in every election since 1999, has a history of proposing radical nationalist measures, though most have failed. A recent poll showed 48% of voters support the population cap, reflecting deep divisions over immigration. Employers’ associations argue that population growth will come mainly from natural increase and longer life expectancy, not immigration.
