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Swiss voters reject EU immigration curbs, exit polls suggest
Source: The Guardian
Swiss voters reject EU immigration curbs, exit polls suggest
Partial results show vote called by rightwing Swiss People’s party defeated 62%-38%
Jon Henley Europe correspondent
@jonhenley
Sun 27 Sep 2020 15.56 BST
Swiss voters are on course to resoundingly reject an attempt to tear up the country’s agreement with the EU on the free movement of people, in a referendum that echoed the Brexit vote.
The largest party in the Swiss parliament, the rightwing, anti-immigration Swiss People’s party (SVP), called the referendum, arguing that the country must be allowed to set its own limit on the number of foreigners coming in to work.
However, near-final results showed the initiative – opposed by government, parliament, unions, employer organisations and all other political parties because it would put Switzerland’s overall relations with the EU in jeopardy – was on course to be rejected by about 62% of voters, and supported by 38%.
Non-nationals account for roughly a quarter of Switzerland’s 8.6 million inhabitants and the SVP argues the country is facing “uncontrolled and excessive immigration” that will drive up unemployment among Swiss nationals, increase housing costs and overwhelm transport and public services.
-snip-
Partial results show vote called by rightwing Swiss People’s party defeated 62%-38%
Jon Henley Europe correspondent
@jonhenley
Sun 27 Sep 2020 15.56 BST
Swiss voters are on course to resoundingly reject an attempt to tear up the country’s agreement with the EU on the free movement of people, in a referendum that echoed the Brexit vote.
The largest party in the Swiss parliament, the rightwing, anti-immigration Swiss People’s party (SVP), called the referendum, arguing that the country must be allowed to set its own limit on the number of foreigners coming in to work.
However, near-final results showed the initiative – opposed by government, parliament, unions, employer organisations and all other political parties because it would put Switzerland’s overall relations with the EU in jeopardy – was on course to be rejected by about 62% of voters, and supported by 38%.
Non-nationals account for roughly a quarter of Switzerland’s 8.6 million inhabitants and the SVP argues the country is facing “uncontrolled and excessive immigration” that will drive up unemployment among Swiss nationals, increase housing costs and overwhelm transport and public services.
-snip-
Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/sep/27/swiss-voters-reject-curbs-on-eu-immigration-switzerland-referendum