Population cap ahead in Switzerland?
On 14 June, Switzerland will hold a referendum on an initiative by the national-conservative Swiss People's Party to cap the country's population at 10 million. Under the terms of the proposal, Switzerland would be obliged to introduce measures at various levels to restrict the right of residence if the population exceeds 9.5 million before 2050. The country currently has 9.1 million inhabitants.
Politicians need pressure
Economist Mathias Binswanger comments in the Aargauer Zeitung:
“In a democratic country like Switzerland, a particular immigration policy cannot be imposed on the people for economic reasons. Ultimately, citizens' well-being matters more than the GDP growth rate. A 'yes' vote on the initiative would mean that people in Switzerland would no longer be passively exposed to immigration, but could once again actively influence it. If the initiative is rejected, however, this will remain a pipe dream, as Swiss politicians will not act without pressure.”
A shabby business model
NZZ finds it worrying that the polls show the country is evenly split 50/50 on the issue:
“This means that one in two people in this country will put a great deal at risk without any real need to do so, including the free movement of people with the EU. Or social cohesion between immigrants and long-established residents, which has worked reasonably well so far. ... The wording of the initiative is, of course, so vague that its implementation will lead to the usual confusion and it will be distorted beyond recognition in the parliamentary process. ... Problems are created by creating problems. What a shabby, yet sadly successful business model this constant dividing of society into the good and the bad has become.”
Danger of system collapsing without migration
A group of doctors and healthcare professionals warns in Le Temps of the consequences of the initiative for the healthcare system:
“As doctors, we are astounded by the discrepancy between the slogans of this initiative and the reality we experience in our daily work. Switzerland is already so short of healthcare staff that it relies on nurses from abroad. Medical services function for the most part only thanks to them. ... In several cantons, healthcare facilities are having to reduce the number of beds because there are not enough nursing staff; in many regions there is a shortage of GPs, and general practitioners are retiring without there being enough young doctors to replace them. This situation is steadily worsening because our population is ageing and its care requirements are increasing.”