Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at 10 million
Swiss voters have rejected a proposal to limit the country's population to 10 million by 2050, according to provisional final results published by the Federal Council.
The initiative, backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, was rejected by 54.79% of voters, while 45.21% voted in favor. Voter turnout reached 58.86%.
Supporters argued that rapid population growth is putting pressure on housing, transport infrastructure and public services, while opponents said immigration remains essential to addressing labor shortages and supporting the economy.
Strong opposition in French-speaking regions
The proposal faced its strongest resistance in French-speaking cantons, including Geneva, Vaud, Neuchatel and Jura, where more than 60% of voters rejected the measure.
The Swiss government and parliament had urged voters to oppose the initiative, warning that it could jeopardize agreements linked to the free movement of people with the European Union and affect broader bilateral relations.
Switzerland’s population currently stands at around 9.1 million.
Voters approve civilian service reform
In a separate vote, Swiss citizens approved amendments to the Federal Civilian Service Act with 52.46% support.
The reform, backed by the government and parliament, aims to reduce the number of people transferring from military service to civilian service and maintain military staffing levels amid growing security concerns in Europe.
Critics of the changes argued that the amendments could make civilian service less accessible.
Source:AA
