Swiss referendum favouring restricted immigration passes with narrow margin

Swiss voters on Sunday narrowly backed a referendum proposal to reinstate strict limits on the number of EU migrants.

The controversial referendum, sparked by fears that increasing immigration would upset the balance of the fiercely independent country by introducing high numbers of Muslim migrants, was finally supported by the present government and gained 50.3 per cent of total votes.

The Swiss government will now face tricky moments as it justifies its stance in Brussels. The results revived the traditional divisions in the country, with German-speaking regions divided, the French-speaking regions for reviving the quota system and the single Italian canton in favour of allowing immigration to continue at its present rate. Although Switzerland is not an EU member state, its government has taken on board a number of EU policies including the free movement of EU citizens.

Brussels is unhappy with the result, with an Eu spokesperson saying that it goes against the principle of free movement as agreed. He added that the EU will investigate the possible implications of the result on Swiss relations with the European Union as a whole.

In Switzerland, the word of voters in a referendum is final, and the government now has no option but to carry out its peoples’ wishes. Business leaders and the government feared a ‘yes’ vote, as government representatives will now be forced to attempt a renegotiation of its bilateral agreement with the EU, which is expected to strongly resist the move.

The ‘yes’ vote came at a time when many EU countries including the UK are facing general discontent over the effect of free movement migration on jobs, social security budgets, social housing shortages and education. Many Swiss citizens have been expressing their opposition to an increase in EU migrants for much the same reasons, although Switzerland’s economy is, at present, booming and unemployment figures are low.