What to Know About Switzerland’s Proposal to Cap Its Population
Switzerland is set to vote on a proposal to cap its population at 10 million by 2050, a measure driven by concerns over immigration and infrastructure strain, despite warnings of economic and diplomatic consequences. The initiative, backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, has gained public support, with 52% in favor according to a recent poll. If passed, the cap could lead to stricter immigration controls and the renegotiation or termination of Switzerland’s free-movement agreement with the European Union.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
An unusual proposal to limit Switzerland’s population to 10 million appears to be gaining ground, despite concerns that it could endanger the country’s economy and relationship with the European Union.The initiative, backed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), was rejected by the government last March. But it is gaining popularity among the public, who will vote on the proposal in a June 14 referendum: over half of Swiss respondents said they’re in favor of the proposal, according to a new opinion poll.The survey of 16,176 respondents on April 22 and 23 showed that 52% were in favor of the proposal while 46% were against it. The remaining 2% of respondents were undecided.
…
Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at TIME — Top.
