Will Switzerland decide to cap its population? The verdict will come in just over a week's time.
The initiative by the right-wing Swiss People's Party, which aims to limit Switzerland's population to 10 million by 2050 by sharply restricting immigration, has already attracted particular attention abroad during the campaign. The international press will undoubtedly be keeping a close eye on the outcome of the June 14 vote.
The gfs.bern polling institute expects the initiative to be rejected. While the yes and no camps were neck and neck at the start of the campaign, opponents of the proposal gained the upper hand in the second poll, with 52% support. It remains to be seen whether this lead will hold until voting day.
The Swiss Abroad, for their part, appear more determined: 63% opposed the Swiss People's Party proposal in the second poll. This trend can be explained in part by the fact that expatriates benefit from the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons with the EU, which the initiative would seek to terminate as a last resort, political scientist Lukas Golder explained.
The second issue on the June 14 ballot has remained in the shadow of the 'No to 10 million' immigration initiative. Yet the outcome of the proposed revision of the civilian service law, which would tighten access conditions, remains uncertain.
Supporters of the proposal enjoyed a comfortable lead at the start of the campaign. But the tide has turned: in the second poll, they were almost level with their opponents. The result therefore remains open.
This newsletter offers a final look at the key issues before June 14. You'll find our in-depth reporting, explanatory articles and filmed debate.
Enjoy your reading,
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As a correspondent at the Federal Palace for SWI swissinfo.ch, I report on federal politics for the Swiss Abroad.
After studying at the Academy of Journalism and Media at the University of Neuchâtel, my career path initially took me to various regional media, working in the editorial offices of Journal du Jura, Canal 3 and Radio Jura bernois. Since 2015, I have been working in the multilingual editorial department of SWI swissinfo.ch, where I continue to practise my profession with passion.
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