Voters in Switzerland on Sunday soundly rejected a ballot measure that would have capped the nation’s population at 10 million. That’s a victory for economic freedom and a welcome setback for political forces taking advantage of immigration anxiety around the continent.
The proposal was put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, which argued that “many feel increasingly like strangers in their own country.” Supporters presented the cap as a way to pursue “sustainability,” complaining that an influx of foreigners in recent decades has raised housing prices and worsened traffic congestion.
Many European communities have experienced significant burdens from an influx of migrants. Germany’s fateful decision a decade ago to welcome around a million asylum seekers from the Middle East has strained the country’s finances and pulled at the nation’s cultural fabric. It’s prompted political backlash, as evidenced by the growth of the far-right Alternative for Germany party.
Switzerland’s population, slightly more than 9 million residents, has increased by more than a quarter since 2000, and most have come from other parts of Europe. Even though some migrants fail to assimilate, the Swiss majority understands that immigrants are a net plus for their economy. That’s especially true as the Swiss fertility rate continues to decline.
The inflow of workers helped ease a labor shortage as the country’s native-born population ages and retires. The newcomers in particular have helped meet Switzerland’s growing need for service workers, including nurses.
Had it passed, the ballot initiative would have posed a serious threat to Switzerland’s relationship with the rest of Europe. While not part of the European Union, it’s one of 29 countries that form the Schengen zone, allowing people to move freely within its borders.
The ballot measure would have required the government to withdraw from the free-movement compact if the population hit 10 million. Such arbitrary restrictions on the size of a nation’s population are not consistent with a growing and dynamic economy.
Thursday’s vote was a win for sensible policy. Yet voters across the continent will face similar tests in the coming years, and there’s no guarantee that other countries will choose to avoid economic self-harm as Switzerland has.
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