Nearly 55% of voters in Switzerland on Sunday rejected an initiative championed by the top right-wing party to cap the rich Alpine country’s population at 10 million, early results showed.
The populist Swiss People’s Party, which has the most seats in parliament, has stirred up and fostered anti-migration sentiment over the years, notably about an influx of workers from the neighboring European Union.
Some have dubbed the proposal a “Swiss Brexit” because it could jeopardize Switzerland’s deep ties to the European Union anchored by deals that foster economic growth, cultural ties and cross-border travel, among other things. Switzerland is not one of the EU’s 27 member states, but it is all but surrounded by four of them
Hmm, yet another right wing politician, peddling policy that would weaken the European Union.
Holly gosh, I wonder where he gets his ideas and/or funding from?
Switzerland is not part of the EU. It is well known that they are neutral, I would say it is common knowledge. Are you trying to spread misinformation or just clueless?
Switzerland is in the EU’s Single Market and has other important agreements in place with the EU. A key reason for that referendum was the SVP’s ambition to force Switzerland out of the Single market. They can’t get the Swiss to agree to that so they try it in hidden ways, this time with playing the anti-foreigner card, while not mentioning that this is designed in reality to force Switzerland out of the Single Market. So yes, this referndum had a lot to do with the EU. The majority of Swiss voters was not fooled though, again. But also this time, the SVP will not take no for an answer and will try again, with a different construct.
What is the mechanism for being forced out of the EU single market?
What the SVP wanted to get adpoted would force the end of freedom of movement with the EU if population in Switzerland only mildly increases (even if that were to happen purely due to domestic population growth btw). In that case there are guillotine clauses that would automatically kill major treaties with the EU, including the one on being in the Single Market. This is pretty much automatic, as Switzerland would violate the conditions based on which it is part of the Single Market and one-sidedly significantly change the deal. Freedom of Movement is, after all, a majory pillar of the Single Market itself.
they didn’t say they were part of the eu
I don’t think politicians give a fuck whether Switzerland is neutral or not
Aww yep, good to hear only 45% support ‘capping’ the people they don’t like, phew.
It’s so fucking embarrassing to be a human being and watch dumb shit like this and authoritarianism growing around the world.
I know this isn’t how it would work but im just picturing some one woman giving birth, the doctor hands her the newborn and she holds it for the first time… Some man walks in wearing a black suit and pulls out a gun. He shoots the baby through the head. “sorry that was the 10 million and 1 Swiss child, we have a limit!”
You might find Kurt Vonnegut Jr.'s story “2BR02B” (“to be or not to be”) an interesting read. It’s not exactly like your theory, but it’s not too far off.
Hmm, I’ve liked some of his writing so I’ll add this to my list.
I’m please to hear of the results. I didn’t think the “No” side would have won by more points because the pre-referendum polls showed neck and neck.
Anyway, it’s a silly initiative to begin with. I was thinking even if the “Yes” side won, in my mind I’m thinking “let the leopards eat their faces”. Never mind the arguments on culture and so on, the economic damage to capping the population is insurmountable because it means fewer workers to migrate. And also, how is capping 10 million even logistically possible? Are they going to deport people? Who decides who to deport if a person is either long term resident or born and raised there? Are they going to do sterilisation if by some miracle there is a baby boom (which by the way, Switzerland like the rest of the world right now is having fewer fertility rate) and the population is reaching 10 million? Far right policies are moronic because they are purely based on emotions. Leopards eventually do eat their faces.
The SVP sold it as anti-foreigner thing but it was really about forcing Switzerland out of the Single Market, a Swiss eqivalent for Brexit. Again. The SVP doesn’t take no for an answer.
I have no particular skin in this game, but reading the article:
- Results are still pending
- Turnout of 59% > 55% of 59% is actually 32%
Come on folks 👀
What does the article mean when it says switzerland is “all but surrounded by four of them”?
It means Switzerland is all but surrounded by four EU member states. Germany, Italy, France, and Austria.
The point being every country around them is in the EU and Switzerland is a notable enclave when you look at a map.
Liechtenstein: “Am I a joke to you?”
The most mundane way to have sex to break federal law.
Not “Swisskit”?
44% to little
