Parliament has been holding a major debate about plans by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party to limit immigration and cancel a deal on the free movement of people with citizens from the European Union.
This content was published on
2 minutes
swissinfo.ch/urs
Español
es
Debate sobre propuesta para restringir inmigración
The House of Representatives is set to come out against a people’s initiative handed in by right-wing groups in August 2018 demanding a nationwide vote on the issue.
After six hours of debate on Monday, the debate was adjourned until next week. More than 80 parliamentarians are scheduled to address the house.
The People’s Party warns the population of Switzerland could soon reach ten million, from the current total of 8.5 million, if nothing is done to curb the influx of immigrants.
However, no other major political party is likely to support the proposal. The government has also dismissed the plans. They argue approval of immigration restrictions would further undermine strained ties with the 28-nation bloc, notably a series of bilateral agreements.
Ahead of elections
Observers say the debate is a platform for right-wing groups with anti-EU and anti-foreigner agendas to draw public attention ahead of the parliamentary elections in October.
Latest polls found that the People’s Party is losing ground but it is still clearly ahead of any other party.
The Senate, the other parliamentary chamber, is to discuss the initiative before the government sets a date for the nationwide ballot.
This content was published on
There has been much debate in Swiss politics on right-wing plans for immigration caps over the past 50 years – to harsh criticism of xenophobia.
Train vs plane: would you take a direct train between London and Geneva?
Eurostar is planning to run direct trains from Britain to Germany and Switzerland from the early 2030s. Would you favour the train over the plane? If not, why not?
More May hotel guests in Basel than at any time in past 90 years
This content was published on
Basel hotels recorded 150,854 overnight stays for the Eurovision Song Contest in May. This corresponds to a year-on-year increase of 8.4%.
Demand remains high for rental flats in Switzerland
This content was published on
More rental flats are once again being advertised on property portals in Switzerland. However, demand also remains very high.
One in five Europeans exposed to too much traffic noise
This content was published on
More than one in five Europeans are exposed to unhealthily high levels of traffic noise, according to the European Environment Agency (EEA).
New living space through densification often comes at expense of the poor
This content was published on
If demolition and new construction are carried out and tenants have to make way, low-income households are affected more often than average.
This content was published on
The ceasefire in the Iran-Israel war has visibly eased tensions on the financial markets. The SMI, Switzerland's leading stock market index, has risen above the 12,000 point mark again.
This content was published on
Geneva, which is facing several days of very hot weather, has raised its level of vigilance with regard to the risk of forest fires and is issuing an appeal for caution.
Zurich arbitration authority rules in favour of tenants of ‘Sugus Houses’
This content was published on
A conciliation authority says the terminations of 105 flat leases in the so-called "Sugus Houses" in the centre of Zurich were abusive. The tenants therefore do not have to move out - at least for the time being.
This content was published on
Visitors to Switzerland spent CHF19.6 billion ($23.9 billion) last year, a 2.2% rise compared to the previous year, the Federal Statistical Office (FSO) said on Monday.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Improving EU economy sparks plunge in Swiss immigration
This content was published on
The number of European Union workers arriving in Switzerland halved last year from a 2013 peak, falling to 30,799 in 2017.
Brussels fears Swiss plan could discriminate EU citizens
This content was published on
That was the message from Mario Gattiker, head of the State Secretariat for Migration, who attended a special meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, called by Brussels to learn more about how Switzerland planned to implement an initiative which called for limits to EU immigration. Gattiker emphasised that he was not in Brussels to negotiate –…
Job priority for Swiss residents to kick in at 8% unemployment rate
This content was published on
At a press conference on Friday, the Swiss justice minister, Simonetta Sommaruga, announced the government’s plans for implementing the 2014 popular vote in favour of immigration quotas for workers from European Union countries. The vote has caused a headache for the government as it violates the EU’s clause on the free movement of people. A…
This content was published on
Switzerland's relations with the 28-member EU are founded on a series of bilateral sectoral accords, which give it many benefits of membership.
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.