Swiss authorities and economic stakeholders expressed relief on Sunday after voters narrowly turned down a contentious anti-immigration initiative aimed at capping the country's population, which had prompted warnings of potential upheaval.
According to initial projections from the gfs.bern institute, nearly 55 percent of Swiss voters rejected the proposal titled 'No to a Switzerland with 10 million!', which was put forward by the hard-right Swiss People's Party (SVP).
Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans welcomed the outcome, stating during a press conference that the Swiss people 'have sent a signal of stability, openness, and reliability.'
The defeated measure sought to implement restrictions to prevent the wealthy Alpine nation's population—currently at 9.1 million—from exceeding 10 million before 2050. In a country where foreigners constitute over a quarter of the population, the proposal would have significantly curtailed immigration if passed.
The SVP, which is Switzerland's largest political party, argued that drastic measures were necessary, attributing issues such as housing shortages, rising rents, overcrowded trains, and traffic congestion to 'mass immigration.'
The initiative faced widespread opposition from the government, parliament, and various economic sectors.
