Budapest Post

Cum Deo pro Patria et Libertate
Budapest, Europe and world news

Switzerland voters overwhelmingly reject bid to limit EU immigration

The country previously voted to restrict free movement, but has since witnessed the fallout from the UK's 2016 Brexit vote.

Voters in Switzerland have handed a crushing defeat to a nationalist party's proposal to limit the number of European Union citizens allowed to live and work in their country.

The plan was rejected by 61.7% of voters, compared to 38.3% who were in favour, according to Swiss public broadcaster SRF.

All but four of the country's 26 regions opposed the plan proposed by the Swiss People's Party to give preferential access to jobs, social protection and benefits to people from Switzerland over those from the 27-nation bloc that surrounds it.

The government had warned the measure could further damage the rich Alpine's country's deep and lucrative ties to the EU.

Had it been passed, it would also have triggered reciprocal disadvantages for millions of Swiss citizens if they want to live or work in the EU.

Justice Minister Karin Keller-Sutter welcomed the result, saying: "Especially at this time, during the difficult economic situation caused by the coronavirus crisis, good relations with our neighbours and with the EU are important."

She added that Switzerland would continue to pursue a "bilateral path" with the EU, eschewing membership of the bloc while seeking close economic ties with it.

But she also acknowledged misgivings that many Swiss have about immigration, saying "freedom of movement doesn't just have benefits".

"The Federal Council only wants as much immigration as necessary," Ms Keller-Sutter said. "That continues to be our goal."

Around 1.4 million EU citizens live in the country of about 8.6 million, while around 500,000 Swiss live in EU countries.

Some are dual citizens and would not have been affected by any restrictions.

In a similar referendum in 2014, the Swiss narrowly voted in favour of limiting EU citizens' freedom to live and work in Switzerland.

Politicians refused to fully implement that referendum over fears of a detrimental impact on Swiss society and businesses, prompting the People's Party to put the issue back on the ballot again this year.

Since the last vote, Switzerland has witnessed the fallout from the UK's 2016 Brexit vote, especially for EU citizens in Britain and Britons living on the continent.

One voter in Geneva, Yann Grote, said he did not approve of further limits on freedom of movement. "I'm not at all in favour, and even more now, because it's not a time to isolate Switzerland," he said.

Another voter, Elisabeth Lopes, agreed. "I'm a daughter of immigrants, so it is a matter that touches me," she said.

"If Switzerland had to withdraw or reduce these agreements (with the EU), I think we would be the real losers."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen welcomed the result of the referendum, calling it "a positive signal to continue to consolidate and deepen our relationship."

Turnout was higher than in most recent referendums, with almost 60% of voters going to the polls or casting their ballots by mail.

AI Disclaimer: An advanced artificial intelligence (AI) system generated the content of this page on its own. This innovative technology conducts extensive research from a variety of reliable sources, performs rigorous fact-checking and verification, cleans up and balances biased or manipulated content, and presents a minimal factual summary that is just enough yet essential for you to function as an informed and educated citizen. Please keep in mind, however, that this system is an evolving technology, and as a result, the article may contain accidental inaccuracies or errors. We urge you to help us improve our site by reporting any inaccuracies you find using the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of this page. Your helpful feedback helps us improve our system and deliver more precise content. When you find an article of interest here, please look for the full and extensive coverage of this topic in traditional news sources, as they are written by professional journalists that we try to support, not replace. We appreciate your understanding and assistance.
Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán stated that Hungary will not adopt the euro because the European Union is falling apart.
Mayor in western Germany in intensive care after stabbing
Australian government pays Deloitte nearly half a million dollars for a report built on fabricated quotes, fake citations, and AI-generated nonsense.
BYD’s UK Sales Soar Nearly Nine-Fold, Making Britain Its Biggest Market Outside China
Latvia to Bar Tourist and Occasional Buses to Russia and Belarus Until 2026
Wave of Complaints Against Apple Over iPhone 17 Pro’s Scratch Sensitivity
Munich Airport Reopens After Second Drone Shutdown
Pro Europe and Anti-War Babiš Poised to Return to Power After Czech Parliamentary Vote
Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs Sentenced to Fifty Months in Prison Following Prostitution Conviction
Altman Says GPT-5 Already Outpaces Him, Warns AI Could Automate 40% of Work
Russian Research Vessel 'Yantar' Tracked Mapping Europe’s Subsea Cables, Raising Security Alarms
Global Cruise Industry Posts Dramatic Comeback with 34.6 Million Passengers in 2024
U.S. Demands Brussels Scrutinize Digital Rules to Prevent Bias Against American Tech
Private Equity’s Fundraising Surge Triggers Concern of European Market Shake-Out
Tokyo’s Jimbōchō Named World’s Coolest Neighbourhood for 2025
European Officials Fear Trump May Shift Blame for Ukraine War onto EU
The Personality Rights Challenge in India’s AI Era
Italy Considers Freezing Retirement Age at 67 to Avert Scheduled Hike
Italian City to Impose Tax on Visiting Dogs Starting in 2026
Study Finds No Safe Level of Alcohol for Dementia Risk
Trump Says Ukraine Can Fully Restore Borders with NATO Backing
Europe Signals Stronger Support for Taiwan at Major Taipei Defence Show
Germany Weighs Excluding France from Key European Fighter Jet Programme
Cyberattack Disrupts Check-in and Boarding Systems at Major European Airports
Björn Borg Breaks Silence: Memoir Reveals Addiction, Shame and Cancer Battle
When Extremism Hijacks Idealism: How the Baader-Meinhof Gang Emerged and Fell
JWST Data Brings TRAPPIST-1e Closer to Earth-Like Habitability
Trump Orders $100,000 Fee on H-1B Visas and Launches ‘Gold Card’ Immigration Pathway
France’s Looming Budget Crisis and Political Fracture Raise Fears of Becoming Europe’s “Sick Man”
Three Russian MiG-31 Jets Breach Estonian Airspace in ‘Unprecedentedly Brazen’ NATO Incident
European manufacturers against ban on polluting cars: "The industry may collapse"
Turkish car manufacturer Togg Enters German Market with 5-Star Electric Sedan and SUV to Challenge European EV Brands
Christian Brueckner Released from German Prison after Serving Unrelated Sentence
World’s Longest Direct Flight China Eastern to Launch 29-Hour Shanghai–Buenos Aires Direct Flight via Auckland in December
New OpenAI Study Finds Majority of ChatGPT Use Is Personal, Not Professional
The conservative right spreads westward: a huge achievement for 'Alternative for Germany' in local elections
Pope Leo Warns of Societal Crisis Over Mega-CEO Pay, Citing Tesla’s Proposed Trillion-Dollar Package
Poland Green-Lights NATO Deployment in Response to Major Russian Drone Incursion
U.S. and China Agree on Framework to Shift TikTok to American Ownership
Le Pen Tightens the Pressure on Macron as France Edges Toward Political Breakdown
Czech Republic signs €1.34 billion contract for Leopard 2A8 main battle tanks with delivery from 2028
Penske Media Sues Google Over “AI Overviews,” Claiming It Uses Journalism Without Consent and Destroys Traffic
Indian Student Engineers Propose “Project REBIRTH” to Protect Aircraft from Crashes Using AI, Airbags and Smart Materials
One in Three Europeans Now Uses TikTok, According to the Chinese Tech Giant
Could AI Nursing Robots Help Healthcare Staffing Shortages?
NATO Deploys ‘Eastern Sentry’ After Russian Drones Violate Polish Airspace
The New Life of Novak Djokovic
German police raid AfD lawmaker’s offices in inquiry over Chinese payments
Volkswagen launches aggressive strategy to fend off Chinese challenge in Europe’s EV market
France Erupts in Mass ‘Block Everything’ Protests on New PM’s First Day
×