Is Switzerland tired of prosperity? I can think of no other reason for our next foolish referendum
Capping the population at 10 million is a far-right fantasy. It would dismantle the openness that has made the country rich
TL;DR
- Switzerland's success is attributed to its diversified economy, high salaries, and low income inequality, fostering a sense of security but also a fear of losing this prosperity.
- The far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) is pushing a referendum to cap the population at 10 million, blaming immigration for rising rents and crowded infrastructure.
- The author argues that Switzerland is not as crowded as perceived, with living space per inhabitant above the European average and increasing household savings.
- The SVP's proposed solution is seen as detrimental, as it supports policies that weaken tenant protections and deprioritize rail investment, while the initiative is framed as a 'Swiss Brexit by stealth' that could sever ties with the EU.
- The article posits that Switzerland's wealth, built on attracting foreign innovators, is a result of its openness, and that restricting immigration would reverse this success and could lead to the erosion of foreigners' rights.
- Freezing the country's population through such a cap would be paradoxical, dismantling the openness that made it prosperous rather than preserving it.