Most Swiss back initiative to cap population at 10 million

A slim majority of Swiss are backing an upcoming referendum proposal to limit Switzerland's population to 10 million, and support for ​it is growing, an opinion poll showed on Wednesday.

The government has rejected ‌the initiative backed by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) being put to voters on June 14, saying it will hurt cooperation with the European Union and damage ​the economy by restricting the labour market.

But concern about rapid population ​growth and pressure on public infrastructure is encouraging many Swiss ⁠to support the proposal, the survey by media group Tamedia with newspaper "20 ​Minuten" and polling institute Leewas showed.

Switzerland's population is now more than 9 ​million, with official data showing foreign nationals accounted for more than 27% by 2024.

The survey, conducted on April 22 and 23 and published in newspaper Tages-Anzeiger, showed 52% ​of 16,176 respondents in favour of the proposal or leaning that way, ​while 46% took the opposite view. The rest gave no opinion.

A previous poll from ‌early ⁠March had shown 45% backing the initiative and 47% against it, the newspaper said, flagging the latest result as unusual in that Swiss referendum proposals generally lose support as the voting day comes closer.

The poll had a ​margin of error ​of plus or ⁠minus 3 percentage points.

Under the proposal, the permanent resident population must not exceed 10 million before 2050, and ​Switzerland should abandon its freedom of movement agreement with ​the EU.

Swiss ⁠lawmakers are debating a Swiss-EU deal struck in late 2024 to deepen economic ties, after a challenging 2025 that saw Switzerland unexpectedly hit with the ⁠highest U.S. ​trade tariffs in Europe.

The SVP, Switzerland's biggest ​party, opposes closer integration with the EU, seeing it as a threat to Swiss sovereignty ​and a source of excess regulation.

- Reuters