'Swiss-style Brexit' Rejected... "62% Oppose EU Immigration Restrictions"

Referendum Held on the 27th... 'One Quarter' of Switzerland's 8.6 Million Population Are Foreigners
Leading Party Swiss People's Party Proposes Vote Considering Labor Market Burden and More

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeong Hyunjin] A proposal to restrict immigration of European Union (EU) citizens in Switzerland was rejected by 62% of voters in a referendum.

According to the daily The Guardian and others on the 27th (local time), the referendum held in Switzerland on the same day showed that 61.7% opposed the constitutional amendment containing this proposal. This result far exceeded the approval rate of 38.3%.

The vote was initiated by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), the largest party in Switzerland. Switzerland, which is not an EU member state, signed a bilateral agreement in 1999 to allow free movement of labor, enabling the workforce necessary for economic activities to move freely between Switzerland and the EU. However, as this situation gradually became a burden on the labor market and social services, the proposal to restrict immigration was put to a referendum.

Among Switzerland's population of 8.6 million, foreigners account for one quarter. The SVP pointed out that "uncontrolled and excessive immigration would cause increased unemployment rates, rising housing prices, and higher costs for transportation and public services for Swiss citizens." Opponents argued that restricting immigration would lead to losing skilled workers and could jeopardize the network of over 120 bilateral agreements.

The federal government opposed the proposal, warning that if passed, it would become difficult to find workers and Switzerland would lose access to the massive EU market with over 500 million people, potentially damaging exports and the economy. Foreign media described this vote as a referendum to reset the existing relationship between Switzerland and the EU, calling it a kind of "Swiss version of Brexit" (the UK's withdrawal from the EU).

Meanwhile, in the same referendum, a proposal to purchase new fighter jets worth 6 billion Swiss francs (approximately 7.6 trillion KRW) was approved with 50.1% support. The federal government will be able to purchase next-generation fighter jets to replace the current F/A-18 Hornet jets, which are scheduled to be retired by 2030. Additionally, 60.3% supported paternity leave for men, while 63.2% opposed expanding tax credits for families with children.