The Swiss vote on an anti-immigration party’s proposal to limit the population to 10 million
Geneva — Switzerland will hold a referendum on a proposal to limit the population of the rich Alpine country to 10 million, in the latest attempt by the largest right-wing party to limit immigration. This passage may lead to a new confrontation with its European neighbors.
The government said on Wednesday that the initiative’s supporters, led by the anti-immigration Swiss People’s Party which holds the largest number of seats in parliament, had collected enough signatures on the petition to put the issue on national ballots on June 14.
The Federal Statistics Office says Switzerland’s population was 9.1 million as of the end of the third quarter of 2025. Traditionally, foreign-born people have made up about 30% of that number in recent years. Most of them came from European Union countries. Some have obtained Swiss citizenship.
This proposal would enshrine in law rules stating that the number of permanent residents in Switzerland – whether Swiss citizens or foreigners holding residence papers – must not exceed 10 million before 2050.
If the population reaches 9.5 million before then, the government will take steps to reduce it, such as taking measures on asylum, family reunification, issuing a residence permit and renegotiating international agreements.
Supporters say the idea is to help protect the environment, natural resources, infrastructure and the social safety net from the pressures of population growth.
Voting is part of direct democracy in Switzerland, which gives voters a direct say in policy making, usually four times a year, through the ballot box.
For years, the party – Known as Senior Vice President By abbreviating it in German – it sought to limit the rise in immigration to the rich Alpine country mixedresults. Many others Western countries saw a rise Anti-immigration sentiment also.
Critics – from most of the rest of the political spectrum – say the proposal oversimplifies a complex issue: that Switzerland benefits from its relationships with its neighbours, especially the four countries bordering the EU, Austria, France, Germany and Italy.
For example, they say Switzerland often relies on foreign workers in hospitals, hotels, construction sites and universities, and any such restrictions on immigration and the free movement of people would violate Switzerland’s existing international obligations.
Switzerland is part of the European Schengen Area, created more than four decades ago, which today includes about 29 countries that allow visa-free movement. Most of them are members of the European Union: Switzerland, as well as Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein are not. The region is home to about 450 million people.
