Switzerland go hold referendum on whether to cap di kontri population at 10 million. Di vote dey set for Sunday, and e dey generate plenty talk inside di Alpine nation.
Di right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) dey back di proposal. Dem dey call am a “sustainability initiative” wey go reduce pressure on housing, public services and environment. But di government and other parties dey see am as anti-immigration move, and dem dey call am “chaos initiative”.
Swiss system of direct democracy mean say any group wey gather 100,000 signatures fit force a nationwide vote. Dis one na common tool for di SVP, wey be di biggest party for parliament since 1999.
Di kontri population don grow by 23% since free movement agreement with EU start for 2002. About 27% of Swiss residents no be citizens. Supporters of di cap say di influx of mainly EU workers dey put housing, schools, transport and Swiss way of life under too much pressure.
But opponents argue say di cap go damage di economy, hurt relations with EU, and leave Switzerland isolated. Rudolf Minsch, chief economist for Economiesuisse, say di proposal na “populist attempt to fix complex problems with a simplistic artificial cap” and e “sells di illusion of a free lunch”.
Helin Genis and Nils Fiechter, both young politicians from immigrant families, get opposite views on di matter. Fiechter, wey dey represent SVP for Bern parliament, say “unchecked immigration dey lead to Switzerland no longer being Switzerland”. Genis, a Social Democrat, say “e no be migrants wey determine rent levels, raise health insurance premiums, or make political decisions on housing or infrastructure”.
If di cap pass, Switzerland go fit limit asylum grants and end family reunification for foreign workers. If di 10 million limit reach, Switzerland go terminate free movement agreement with EU, wey go affect di kontri access to EU single market.
Swiss employers dey worry about labour shortages, as half of hotel workers na immigrants, and hospitals and care homes dey rely on foreign workers. Di SVP argue say immigration dey fuel demand for more hospital beds and schools, and say limiting am go ease pressure.
Opponents point out say 20% of Swiss population don pass 65 years, and di kontri need young workers to staff and fund needs of ageing population. Jon Pult, Social Democrat MP, say im biggest fear na to be “alone in dis unstable and dangerous world”.
Opinion polls show say di vote go tight, with 52% against di cap, 45% for am, and many still undecided. To pass, di initiative must win both popular vote and majority of cantons. Results expected by Sunday afternoon.
