On June 3, a public opinion poll was released showing that Swiss voters are likely to reject the country's permanent population limit proposal to 10 million people before 2050.
The proposal will be put to a vote on June 14, amid increasing debates about population growth and pressure on public infrastructure. The Swiss population has increased from 7.3 million in 2002 to 9.1 million last year.
According to this initiative, Switzerland's permanent population must not exceed 10 million people before 2050. The proposal also requires the country to end the free travel agreement with the European Union (EU).
The survey results conducted by the research organization GFS Bern for the SRG Public Radio and Television Station, with 19,400 participants in the period from May 19 to 27, showed that 52% opposed the proposal, while 45% supported it. The rest have not yet made a decision.
This result marks a significant change compared to the previous poll at the end of April, when the approval and opposition ratios were both at 47%.
The Swiss government opposes the initiative initiated by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). According to the government, the application of the proposal could harm cooperative relations with the EU, Switzerland's most important trading partner, thereby negatively affecting the economy.
Supporters argue that the sharp increase in immigration is putting pressure on public infrastructure, especially housing, transportation, schools and hospitals. They also argue that immigration control may contribute to protecting the environment against rapid population growth, while helping to limit crime and violence.
Meanwhile, opposing opinions argue that imposing legal restrictions on immigration could lead to rifts in relations between Switzerland and the EU. Some people also emphasized that the Swiss economy needs highly skilled labor from abroad to meet development needs.
With a 7% gap between the two factions in the latest poll, the prospect of passing the population limit initiative is currently facing many challenges before the upcoming national vote.
