Referendum on immigration limit could threaten EU agreements and cripple economy, say Swiss businesses
Switzerland will vote this summer on a proposal from the far-right Swiss People’s party (SVP) to limit the country’s population to 10 million, a move that would threaten key agreements with the EU and, opponents say, cripple the economy.
The government said on Wednesday the referendum on the SVP’s “No to a 10 million Switzerland” initiative, which is strongly opposed by both chambers of parliament and the business and financial services community, would be held on 10 June.
The initiative would oblige the Swiss government and parliament to act if the country’s permanent population, currently 9.1 million, exceeds 9.5 million by denying entrance to newcomers, including asylum seekers and the families of foreign residents.
1% of the world population is more than 80 million. Them being rich or not isn’t what matters, how the resources are divided is the problem. There is enough space also in Switzerland for many more people but not if all of them are poor and uneducated, nor if all of them are surgeons and lawyers, nor if they all want to start a free roam chicken farm. More equality leads to more perceived space, because low equality leads to people living in small houses in dense cities. But if you’re not from Switzerland it might not really matter what argument i bring up.