Swiss Parliament Recommends Rejection of 'No to a Ten Million Switzerland!' Immigration Initiative

Parliamentary Chambers Unite Against Initiative

The Swiss Parliament has formally recommended that voters reject the controversial 'No to a ten million Switzerland!' initiative, put forth by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP). Both the National Council (House of Representatives) and the Council of States (Senate) have voted against the proposal, urging the electorate to follow their lead in an upcoming national referendum. The Council of States, the upper house, voted 29 to nine in favor of recommending rejection, with six abstentions, on December 15, 2025.

The initiative, also known as the 'Sustainability Initiative,' seeks to enshrine in the Swiss constitution a cap on the country's permanent resident population at 10 million people before 2050. Should the population reach 9.5 million before this date, the Federal Council and parliament would be mandated to implement measures to restrict immigration. These measures could include limiting family reunification, restricting permanent residency or naturalization for temporarily admitted persons, and potentially renegotiating or even terminating the Free Movement of Persons agreement with the European Union.

Reasons for Parliamentary Rejection

Opponents within the parliament, including the Federal Council, have voiced strong concerns that accepting the initiative would severely jeopardize Switzerland's economic prosperity, growth, and international commitments. Federal Councillor Beat Jans stated that the initiative 'would not solve a single problem, but only create new ones.' Critics argued that terminating the free movement agreement with the EU, which is considered 'crucial for Switzerland's prosperity,' would be a significant detriment.

Furthermore, parliamentarians highlighted Switzerland's reliance on foreign talent. Federal Councillor Tiana Angelina Moser (GLP) pointed out that approximately 45 percent of doctors in Switzerland hold foreign degrees, emphasizing that 'Switzerland cannot do without these people.' Limiting immigration, they contend, would impede access to essential foreign labor, thereby threatening Swiss competitiveness and innovation.

SVP's Stance and Public Vote Ahead

The SVP, Switzerland's largest political party, formally submitted the initiative in April 2024 after collecting over 114,000 signatures, surpassing the threshold required for a public vote under Switzerland's direct democracy system. The party argues that 'uncontrolled immigration must finally be tackled at its root' and that the proposal offers a 'sensible way to regain control.' They cite concerns over 'Dichtestress' (density stress), including pressure on housing, infrastructure, public transport, healthcare, and schools, as well as rising crime and integration issues, as consequences of high immigration.

As of September 2024, Switzerland's population stood at approximately 9.03 million. While both parliamentary chambers have recommended rejection and have also declined to offer a counter-proposal, the initiative will proceed to a national referendum. No specific date has been set for the public vote, but it is anticipated to take place in 2026.