class=”sc-29f61514-0 jbwksb”>
10 million Switzerland! It is still a political rallying cry, but Switzerland is getting closer to this number every year. Last year, the permanent resident population grew by more than 70,000 people to 8.8 million people. And this year too, the trend is upwards.
The federal government must now arm itself for the future scenario with 10 million inhabitants. The National Council has accepted a corresponding request from GLP National Councilor Judith Bellaiche (52). In it she demands a report on the opportunities and challenges that a Switzerland of 10 million inhabitants entails. The focus should be on a “positive vision”. The report therefore aims to show solutions, planning goals and concrete measures on how to master such a population scenario – for example with regard to infrastructure, healthcare or housing.
Not only the Federal Council supports the initiative, but also a clear majority of the National Council with 122 against 62 votes. From the FDP to the Greens, support has been tremendous. After all, you just want to know what can happen in Switzerland. A report – a piece of paper.
SVP counters
Not for the SVP. With that she braced herself against the advance of ’10 million-Bellaiche’, as the woman from Zurich is now called in the right-wing party. “The will of the people and the estates is to limit population growth – not to present it positively,” said SVP National Councilor Gregor Rutz (50, ZH) in view of the yes to the mass immigration initiative of 2014. In it, voters spoke out in favor of independent control of immigration – “thus the most important measure to avoid a 10 million Switzerland”.
Now the SVP counters with its own advance. In both chambers, she introduced a parliamentary motion asking the Federal Council to introduce a new proposal “within six months” to implement the mass immigration initiative. This should include “independent control of immigration by foreigners through annual caps and quotas”.
Rutz will represent the demand as spokesperson for the group. He complains that a net 1.4 million people have emigrated since 2002. And despite this influx, economiesuisse and other associations would complain about a shortage of skilled workers. “The free movement of people, of course, demanded too much from us and the wrong immigrants,” Rutz concludes.
However, the SVP will not rely solely on the Federal Council and Parliament. As early as July, she wants to launch a new citizens’ initiative with which she wants to curb immigration. Under the motto “No 10 million Switzerland”, the initiative calls on Switzerland not to exceed the threshold of 10 million permanent residents by 2050.
Source:Blick
I am Liam Livingstone and I work in a news website. My main job is to write articles for the 24 Instant News. My specialty is covering politics and current affairs, which I’m passionate about. I have worked in this field for more than 5 years now and it’s been an amazing journey. With each passing day, my knowledge increases as well as my experience of the world we live in today.
