Overview
- Voters rejected the Swiss People’s Party proposal by about 55% to 45%, blocking a constitutional rule that would have kept the population below 10 million.
- The referendum, held on June 14, drew unusually high turnout of nearly 59%, reflecting strong public engagement with migration and public‑service issues.
- Had it passed, the measure would have required limits on family reunification and visas to hold population growth to a 10 million cap by 2050.
- Opponents warned the cap risked ending Switzerland’s free‑movement agreement with the EU and harming market access and the supply of foreign workers for health care, construction and research.
- With the constitutional route closed, politicians and business groups now face pressure to deliver concrete reforms on housing, public transport and workforce planning while the SVP says it will keep migration on the national agenda.