Switzerland will hold a vote on measures designed to limit immigration to stop its population from rising to 10 million before 2050, after enough signatures were deposited on Wednesday.
Under the Swiss system of direct democracy, citizens can initiate popular votes by collecting 100,000 valid signatures within 18 months.
The hard-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) submitted 114,600 signatures to the Federal Office in Bern on Wednesday – collected in half the time.
“Mass immigration continues its course… with devastating consequences for our small country,” said the SVP, which is the largest party in the rich Alpine nation.
Adoption of the initiative “is urgent to protect our unique landscape, our high quality of life, our above-average prosperity, and for a safe, free future for us and our children.”
Once petition signatures are verified, it usually takes months, or even years, before a vote is taken.
The resident population at the end of 2022 was 8.82 million, compared to 8.54 million at the end of 2018. Foreigners make up a quarter of the country’s population, Fena reports.
