Swiss referendum on stricter asylum laws

According to Roger Köppel, the Swiss have made the right decision, with what he calls "a rather harmless revision of their asylum laws in comparison with other European countries." "The revision of the country's asylum laws championed by Justice Minister Christoph Blocher makes the laws less vulnerable to abuse and gives the state more control, but of course the new paragraphs won't solve the major problem of global migration. The horror scenario conjured up by Blocher's opponents in the fight for votes, according to which Switzerland would forfeit its humanitarian tradition by adopting the revised laws, was completely misguided. Prominent members of the opposition camp were forced to admit that they weren't familiar with the details of the new law but were simply opposed to it 'as a matter of principle'. The fact is that even once the new law enters force, refugees who have no papers will be able to appeal refusals to grant refugee status and receive support from relief organisations. The Swiss left's 'anti-Blocher reflex' has clouded its perception of reality. The voters, often cleverer than their leaders, took a more sensible and realistic view of the situation."

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