Switzerland has rejected a nationwide ballot initiative to cap its population at 10 million.

The proposal, put forward by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP), sought to limit immigration by restricting entry to newcomers once the population reached 9.5 million, including asylum seekers and the families of foreign residents.

European Country To Vote On Referendum That Would Cap Population

BBC has more:

Results showed nearly 55% of participants voted against and 45% voted for, with a turnout of 60% of the population.

The proposal came from the right-wing Swiss People's Party, which has long campaigned on an anti-immigration platform.

The divisive vote risked putting the country's free movement agreement with the European Union in jeopardy and was opposed by the government, Swiss businesses, and all the other major parties.

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Welcoming the no vote, Switzerland's justice minister Beat Jans said it was "a sign of stability, openness and reliability".

Switzerland's population has grown rapidly since 2002, when it stood at 7.3 million. Now it is 9.1 million, 27% of whom are not Swiss citizens.

However, the People Party's argument that capping the population would reduce pressure on transport, housing and the environment seem not to have persuaded enough voters.

"We take note of the outcome of today’s vote in Switzerland. The Swiss people have spoken. The EU and Switzerland share deep ties and a strong partnership. We will continue working together to modernise and deepen our cooperation, for the benefit of our citizens and businesses," EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen commented.

Numerous factors led to the rejection of the ballot initiative, including the potential of losing workers in tourism, hospitals, and care homes.

Also, Swiss business leaders feared that the country would lose access to Europe's single market.

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The New York Times shared further:

The measure’s support was heaviest in rural states, and its opposition was strongest in cities and in border regions, including the French-speaking areas in the west.

Polls had suggested a tight race, but the “no” campaign gained momentum in the days before the vote. The final margin appeared larger than most analysts had expected.

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The referendum carried heavy implications for Swiss politics, the economy and the country’s relationship with the European Union, at a time of increased national anxiety over global security and commerce.

“The voting population has spoken out in favor of a networked Switzerland,” Beat Jans, the Swiss justice minister and an outspoken opponent of the measure, told reporters on Sunday in Bern.

Voters, he added, want to continue a partnership with Europe that “relies on stability and reliability in geopolitically and economically uncertain times.”

“This is important for jobs, for prosperity, and the international cooperation of our country,” he said.

The vote took place amid a wider backlash against migration across Europe, and at a time when Switzerland, one of the world’s richest countries, is struggling with concerns over quality of life, affordability and environmental sustainability.

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