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As a result, 61.7 percent of voters rejected the initiative to terminate the treaty on the free movement of people living in Switzerland and EU countries.
The essence of the question put on the agenda by the populist-nationalist Swiss People’s Party is whether to determine the number of EU citizens who settle and work in Switzerland. Today, approximately 1.4 million EU citizens live in Switzerland, with a population of 8.6 million. According to populists, those born in Switzerland should take priority over settlers in employment and in the provision of social benefits and social security.
Under the SVP initiative, Switzerland should review its constitution and ensure that the Alpine country decides on its immigration policy independently.
However, the government has warned that if Switzerland waives the free movement agreement, a series of clauses will take effect that will freeze many agreements with the European Union, Switzerland’s largest trading partner. Ursula van der Leyen, President of the European Commission, welcomed the result of the referendum.
In 2014, we once managed to put a similar topic on the agenda. In the referendum at that time, a narrow majority supported restricting the number and rights of EU citizens who settle and work in Switzerland, but parliament, fearing the economic and social consequences, ultimately failed to fully legislate. This allowed the Swiss People’s Party to put the issue back on the agenda.
In addition to the establishment and employment of EU citizens, the Swiss also decided by a 60 percent majority in Sunday’s referendum to grant parents two weeks of paid leave after the birth of a child. They also backed 50.1 percent of the purchase of a $ 6.5 billion fighter planned for 2030. Relaxing strict rules on wolf hunting, which would be necessary to keep the predator population in check, was rejected by a majority of 51.9 percent.
This time, the turnout was exceptionally high, almost 59 percent. Turnout in Swiss referendums has been low for decades, generally below 50 percent. Generally, approximately 90 percent of voters cast their vote not in person but by letter.
Cover image: Getty Images
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