On Sunday, Swiss voters will decide the fate of a divisive anti-immigration proposal aimed at limiting the country’s population and another referendum on limiting conscientious objection to military service.
Opinion polls suggest the two ballot papers proposed under Switzerland’s system of direct democracy may be tight.
Polling stations will be open for a few hours Sunday morning and close at noon, with most ballots already cast early by mail. The first results are expected to be announced by mid-afternoon.
Tensions have been growing over “No to Switzerland of 10 million people!” The initiative was put forward by the far-right Swiss People’s Party.
The proposal seeks measures to prevent the wealthy Alpine country’s current population of 9.1 million from exceeding 10 million by 2050.
In a country where foreigners make up more than a quarter of the population, the proposal, if accepted, would put a brake on immigration.
The senior vice president of Switzerland’s largest political party insists tough measures are needed, blaming “mass immigration” for a host of problems, from housing shortages and rising rents to overcrowding on trains and traffic congestion.
“Switzerland is a small country that cannot expand,” senior deputy Ivan Pahud told AFP.
We “don’t want to welcome the whole of Europe.”
But critics warn that if the initiative is adopted, it could cause “chaos” that could seriously damage the Swiss economy and Switzerland’s relationship with its main trading partner, the European Union.
“The risks are very high,” Swiss Justice Minister Beat Jans told the Tribune de Genève, warning that the vote could trigger the equivalent of a Swiss “Brexit”.
The initiative faces widespread opposition from government, parliament and multiple economic sectors.
While polls suggest the vote may be tight, the latest surveys show opposition to moving forward with the proposal.
To pass, it would need to win not just a majority of votes but a majority in more than half of Switzerland’s 26 cantons.
– Conscientious objection to military service –
Switzerland will also vote on Sunday on a bill passed by parliament aimed at making civilian services less attractive and accessible at a time when the war in Ukraine and other geopolitical tensions are forcing European countries to increase their military numbers.
The referendum was launched by the political left in the militarily neutral country. They believe the bill is dangerous and could ultimately lead to the complete repeal of Alternative Service.
Opinion polls also suggest the vote will be close.
Switzerland has compulsory military service for men. They serve in a unique militia system in which conscripts serve for at least four months before being drafted repeatedly for more than a decade to attend weeks-long refresher courses.
Since 1996, those who sincerely object to military service have been allowed to serve in civilian service.
Since access to civilian services was simplified in 2009, the number of people taking this option has risen steadily, with the government warning the trend has become a “problem”.
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This article was generated from automated news agency feeds without modifications to the text.
