Swiss Politician Proposes Population Cap Referendum

Thomas Matter, a prominent member of the Swiss People’s Party and businessman, is advocating for a referendum to cap Switzerland's population at 10 million. Currently, the population stands at approximately 9.1 million. If the referendum passes on June 14, it would legally require the government to take measures to prevent the population from exceeding 10 million by 2050, particularly by limiting asylum and family reunification. Matter argues that the current population growth is unsustainable, while opponents, including Social Democrat justice minister Beat Jans, warn that it could jeopardize Switzerland's agreements with the EU regarding free movement. The initiative has garnered support from over half of the Swiss population according to recent polls, despite significant opposition from the government and various NGOs. The campaign has been characterized by a disparity in funding, with opponents outspending supporters by 9 million Swiss francs to 6 million Swiss francs.