Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million • Hacker News Board

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#31

Post by stephbook » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:35 PM UTC

Avicebron wrote: post #20

abc03 wrote: post #16

Maybe a personal analysis: It's a trend that is growing all over Europe. It's the equivalent of overtourism and a problem for the ruling parties (except the SVP that proposed it). Expect it to continue quite soon in Switzerland and other European countries (France, Germany etc.). Of course it doesn't make sense to curb immigration at 10 Mio and many know it. It was also for many a vote against the ruling parties. Alt…

How are the job prospects and housing prices? Switzerland is beautiful and I would gladly move there for six or so equivalent figures..

They pay incredibly well, but their work culture (vacation, protections for parents etc) is atrocious. They're on par with Japan/South Korea.

You get bonus points for commuting across the German border and utilizing our cheap prices. Don't forget to get the value-added tax refunded!

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#32

Post by JumpCrisscross » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:37 PM UTC

tonfa wrote: post #30

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's a trend that is growing all over Europe The current system permitting freedom of movement across the continent while devolving immigration policy entirely to members creates a fundamental tension the EU needs to resolve. Because otherwise, Berlin can basically dictate EU immigration single handedly, which is bound to generate backlash even if they run a perfect programme.

> The current system permitting freedom of movement across the continent while devolving immigration policy entirely to members creates a fundamental tension the EU needs to resolve. Because otherwise, Berlin can basically dictate EU immigration single handedly, which is bound to generate backlash even if they run a perfect programme. You do realize German nationals (followed by French) are the top contingent in term…

> You do realize German nationals (followed by French) are the top contingent in term of immigration to Swizerland

Yes. I’m also conceding to the SVP the observation that a good fraction of said nationals are recently naturalized.

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#33

Post by tonfa » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:38 PM UTC

alephnerd wrote: post #4

> Swiss citizens have rejected by a 55% majority... This is still very close for comfort, and SVP will re-propose it again and again and again as it and it's predecessors have done for decades.

More surprising it didn't pass the "majority of cantons" either (both are required for initiatives like this), I would have expected it to pass (there are a lot of smaller/rural/alpine cantons which tends to vote more conservative).

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#34

Post by mrkeen » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:39 PM UTC

viking123 wrote: post #23

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's a trend that is growing all over Europe The current system permitting freedom of movement across the continent while devolving immigration policy entirely to members creates a fundamental tension the EU needs to resolve. Because otherwise, Berlin can basically dictate EU immigration single handedly, which is bound to generate backlash even if they run a perfect programme.

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While they're at it, they should kick out the French, the Germans, the Italians, and any other immigrants refusing to speak Swiss.

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#35

Post by stephbook » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:39 PM UTC

inigyou wrote: post #28

stephbook wrote: post #25

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is this Berlin that decides anything and rolls it out contintent-wide with us in the room right now?

Berlin is basically forcing the EU's hand regarding the Gaza war, so, yes?

How is that related to immigration?

> Berlin can basically dictate EU immigration single handedly

That's what I was responding to.

Note the UK left the EU and accepted more immigrants than before. We didn't force them. Hungary and Poland never accepted Syrian immigrants either and they weren't forced to accept them iirc.

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#36

Post by inigyou » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:39 PM UTC

viking123 wrote: post #21

abc03 wrote: post #16

Maybe a personal analysis: It's a trend that is growing all over Europe. It's the equivalent of overtourism and a problem for the ruling parties (except the SVP that proposed it). Expect it to continue quite soon in Switzerland and other European countries (France, Germany etc.). Of course it doesn't make sense to curb immigration at 10 Mio and many know it. It was also for many a vote against the ruling parties. Alt…

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Does Switzerland hate Indians or something?

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#37

Post by Arodex » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:39 PM UTC

FabCH wrote: post #24

Avicebron wrote: post #20

Earlier quoted context omitted.

How are the job prospects and housing prices? Switzerland is beautiful and I would gladly move there for six or so equivalent figures..

If you are non-EU, you will not get a work permit. If you are EU or do get a work permit, you will not get housing. The vote was for a reason…

You can get housing, you have to trade money for time and commute with the (frequent and reliable) public transportation.

Meanwhile the parlement and the anti+immigration far-right vote all the time to increase landlord rights and margins. Most of them are landlords, of course...

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#38

Post by JumpCrisscross » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:40 PM UTC

FabCH wrote: post #27

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> It's a trend that is growing all over Europe The current system permitting freedom of movement across the continent while devolving immigration policy entirely to members creates a fundamental tension the EU needs to resolve. Because otherwise, Berlin can basically dictate EU immigration single handedly, which is bound to generate backlash even if they run a perfect programme.

Immigration is not devolved. The whole point of Schengen is the opposite of devolution of immigration. You are confusing immigration with naturalization. Only if Berlin starts handing out German passports do they dictate EU immigration single-handedly.

> Only if Berlin starts handing out German passports do they dictate EU immigration single-handedly

Fair enough and great point.

It’s incredibly hard to naturalize in Switzerland. Less so in Germany. (Though still much harder than in America, at least based on my American friends who naturalized there and this Swiss of Indian and Germanic origin who naturalized in America.) It’s fair for those countries to want to maintain those differences.

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#39

Post by JumpCrisscross » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:40 PM UTC

inigyou wrote: post #29

JumpCrisscross wrote: post #26

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Western Europe will be a massive powder keg in 20 years Western Europe has been a powder keg for at least three millennia. The only thing keeping a cap on it recently was American hegemony. (EDIT: to be clear, American hegemony is waning. The powder keg is uncapped, and we’re one of the parties throwing in matches.)

America is who's propping up all the far right parties now. America wants a destable, fractured Europe. Russia too, but America has more funds.

> America is who's propping up all the far right parties now

Oh, to be clear, yes.

Re: Swiss voters reject proposal to cap population at ten million

#40

Post by inigyou » Sun, Jun 14, 2026, 5:41 PM UTC

stephbook wrote: post #35

inigyou wrote: post #28

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Berlin is basically forcing the EU's hand regarding the Gaza war, so, yes?

How is that related to immigration? > Berlin can basically dictate EU immigration single handedly That's what I was responding to. Note the UK left the EU and accepted more immigrants than before. We didn't force them. Hungary and Poland never accepted Syrian immigrants either and they weren't forced to accept them iirc.

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