Switzerland is voting on Sunday to decide whether to back a proposal to limit the country's population, through a referendum that has been compared to the Brexit vote in Britain and could have far-reaching consequences for Bern's economy and relations with the European Union.
Driven by concerns about immigration, pressure on public services and a housing shortage, the constitutional change proposed by the Swiss People's Party would require the country's population not to exceed 10 million by 2050. According to official projections, Switzerland is expected to reach this figure in the early 2040s.
This unprecedented scheme to legally determine population levels comes at a time when the political right in Europe is calling for tougher measures on immigration, fueled by dissatisfaction with the cost of living, weak economic growth and crime.
"If the population exceeds 10 million, space will become limited and immigration must be restricted," said Helen Gulea, 58, a seamstress and part-time kiosk worker in Zurich, originally from Kenya, who voted by mail in favor of the proposed border.
Voting results are expected to begin being published around noon.
If the proposal is approved, reaching the 10 million population threshold would trigger a process that could force Switzerland to abandon its free movement of workers agreement with the European Union, whose member states supply a large part of the Swiss labor market.
Switzerland's aging population has already surpassed 9 million inhabitants, and polls show that public opinion is almost evenly divided.
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Swiss say "no" to population limit, according to early voting results
A final poll conducted this month showed that support for the proposal is declining and that more citizens are opposing it. However, an earlier poll had suggested that the initiative could be approved.
Patrick Leisibach, a migration expert at the research organization Avenir Suisse, said that concerns that overpopulation is pushing public infrastructure to its limits have now become widespread across the country.
"Traditionally there is an anti-immigration vote on the political right, but today many people on the left are also feeling this pressure," he said.
Swiss say "no" to population limit, according to early voting results
Voters in Switzerland have rejected a proposal to limit the country's population to 10 million, according to initial projections.
Although not all votes have been counted yet, the current trend shows that around 55% of voters voted against the proposal, while 45% voted in favor of it.
The proposal was put forward by the Swiss People's Party, which has long campaigned against immigration.
This divisive referendum risked calling into question the agreement on the free movement of persons between Switzerland and the European Union.
Switzerland's population has grown rapidly since 2002, when it numbered 7.3 million. Today, it has reached 9.1 million, with 27% of residents being Swiss residents born abroad.
However, the People's Party's arguments that limiting the population would reduce pressure on transportation, housing, and the environment did not seem to sufficiently convince voters.
Many other citizens seemed concerned about the possibility of losing needed labor in sectors such as tourism, hospitals, and elderly care centers.
Also, Swiss business leaders in particular feared that the country could lose its vital access to the European single market.
Over half of Swiss products are exported to the European Union, but their access to European markets depends on Switzerland's commitment to the free movement of people. If the 10 million population limit had been adopted, Switzerland would have been forced to cancel this agreement.
It is also likely that some Swiss voters were concerned about the consequences of a decision that could leave the country more isolated in an increasingly unstable world.
Although neutral, Switzerland, like its European neighbors, is increasing defense spending and is considering ways to cooperate more closely with European countries in the field of security.
Switzerland's system of direct democracy means that important decisions are made by popular vote. Activists only need to collect 100,000 signatures to secure a nationwide referendum.
