Overview
- The ballot was scheduled for June 14, 2026 after SVP-led petitioners surpassed the 100,000-signature threshold required for a nationwide referendum.
- The initiative would enshrine a 10 million limit on the permanent-resident population until 2050, with measures triggered at 9.5 million to restrict asylum, family reunification and residency permits.
- If the cap is exceeded, authorities would be required to take all necessary steps, explicitly including ending the free-movement agreement with the European Union.
- The Federal Council and a parliamentary majority urge rejection, while business groups warn of labor shortages and broader economic risks tied to EU relations.
- Switzerland’s population is about 9.1 million, and late-2025 polls showed roughly 48% support versus about 41–45% opposition, leaving the outcome uncertain.