Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million - SWI swissinfo.ch

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Swiss voters have turned down a plan to limit the nation’s population to ten million, with a 54.8 percent majority opposing the measure and a 58 percent turnout that highlighted deep urban‑rural divides. The final count showed 45.2 percent in favor, according to research institute gfs.bern. The rejection was most pronounced in German‑speaking Basel‑City where 73.5 percent voted no, and also clear in French‑speaking cantons such as Neuchatel, Geneva and Vaud. In contrast a small rural canton Appenzell Inner Rhodes recorded a 65.9 percent yes vote, underscoring the split between densely populated areas that feel overcrowded and quieter regions that do not.

At the same time a separate reform that tightens rules for civilian service passed with 52.5 percent support. The changes raise the minimum service period to 150 days, limit exemptions and introduce refresher courses. The aim is to reduce annual admissions from about 7,200 to 4,000 and to strengthen the army amid heightened geopolitical tension. Supporters argued that the current system had become too attractive and needed refocus, while opponents warned that stricter rules could worsen shortages in health care, education and agriculture.

Political reactions reflected the nuanced outcome. People’s Party president Marcel Dettling said the countryside had clearly said yes but cities tipped the balance, urging celebrants to address underlying problems. Left‑wing Social Democratic Party co‑president Cédric Wermuth linked the rejection to a desire to protect ties with the European Union, a point echoed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who tweeted that the Swiss people had spoken and that the EU would continue to deepen cooperation.

Switzerland’s current population stands at 9.1 million, up 23 percent since the free movement agreement with the EU took effect in 2002. The initiative would have forced limits once the count reached 9.5 million before 2050, potentially ending free movement with the EU as a last resort. Critics argued that the proposal oversimplified complex migration flows and that the countryside’s yes vote did not guarantee a simple solution to the nation’s infrastructure challenges. The vote also comes amid a long‑running debate on immigration, with the 2014 “mass immigration” initiative having passed narrowly and the current proposal representing the latest effort by the People’s Party to shape policy through direct democracy.

Overall, the result signals a cautious stance toward rapid population growth, especially in urban centers, while also revealing a willingness to maintain strong ties with the EU and to seek alternative approaches to address infrastructure pressures without resorting to a hard cap.