https://feeds.thelocal.com/ Read the latest news and views from Switzerland in English en-us news@thelocal.com (TheLocal) webmaster@thelocal.com (TheLocal) TheLocal RSS Feed Swiss authorities and economic players breathed a sigh of relief Sunday after voters narrowly rejected a divisive anti-immigration proposal to cap the country's population, which had sparked warnings of "chaos". https://www.thelocal.ch/20260614/breaking-no-to-10-million-vote-set-for-nail-biting-finish Sun, 14 Jun 2026 12:23:06 +0200 breaking-no-to-10-million-vote-set-for-nail-biting-finish The long and contentious campaign surrounding the hard-right’s bid to thwart population growth in Switzerland by limiting immigration, is coming to an end on June 14th. Here’s a reminder of what’s at stake as the Swiss head to the polls on Sunday. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260612/everything-you-need-to-know-to-understand-switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote Fri, 12 Jun 2026 14:25:53 +0200 everything-you-need-to-know-to-understand-switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote Switzerland's vote on proposed measures to restrict immigration to ensure the population does not exceed 10 million is dividing the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260612/switzerland-divided-four-perspectives-on-sundays-anti-immigration-vote Fri, 12 Jun 2026 10:35:12 +0200 switzerland-divided-four-perspectives-on-sundays-anti-immigration-vote The far-right’s ‘No to 10 million’ initiative, to be voted on in Sunday's referendum, is the result of the Swiss government’s failure to prepare the country’s infrastructure for the significant population spurt, an expert has claimed. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260611/a-wake-up-call-switzerland-pays-price-for-not-preparing-for-population-growth Thu, 11 Jun 2026 09:40:34 +0200 a-wake-up-call-switzerland-pays-price-for-not-preparing-for-population-growth On June 14th, the results of the controversial and highly divisive bid to curtail immigration to Switzerland will finally become known. But what conditions need to be met for this initiative to pass? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260609/double-majority-what-needs-to-happen-for-swiss-population-cap-initiative-to-pass Tue, 09 Jun 2026 11:05:47 +0200 double-majority-what-needs-to-happen-for-swiss-population-cap-initiative-to-pass On June 14th, Swiss voters will decide whether to accept the hard-right initiative that seeks to stop population growth by limiting the number of immigrants from the EU allowed to work and live in the country. But could the ‘yes’ vote trigger a ‘preemptive’ migration surge? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260608/could-eu-nationals-rush-to-move-to-switzerland-if-population-cap-is-triggered Mon, 08 Jun 2026 13:47:40 +0200 could-eu-nationals-rush-to-move-to-switzerland-if-population-cap-is-triggered Switzerland votes on June 14th on an initiative that would seek to stop the country's population hitting 10 million before 2050. Here is an overview of where things stand right now. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260608/switzerlands-population-vote-an-overview Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:11:51 +0200 switzerlands-population-vote-an-overview At a Swiss nursing home, Marcelle Mivelaz celebrated her 80th birthday surrounded by friends, as a team of mostly foreign nurses and caregivers ensured the day ran smoothly. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260608/swiss-healthcare-united-against-immigration-cap-plan Mon, 08 Jun 2026 09:44:54 +0200 swiss-healthcare-united-against-immigration-cap-plan In many of Switzerland’s communities, you can see, alongside billboards urging voters to say ‘yes’ to the immigration-capping bid, a photo of the US President Donald Trump gracing a poster of his own. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260605/swiss-opponents-of-no-to-10-million-vote-harness-influence-of-donald-trump Fri, 05 Jun 2026 14:47:04 +0200 swiss-opponents-of-no-to-10-million-vote-harness-influence-of-donald-trump A win for the ‘No to 10 million’ initiative in a referendum on June 14th would in years to come impact many aspects of life in Switzerland. But what about cross-border travel with Switzerland's neighbours? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260604/how-would-travel-to-and-from-switzerland-be-hit-if-swiss-have-to-break-ties-with-eu Thu, 04 Jun 2026 15:01:18 +0200 how-would-travel-to-and-from-switzerland-be-hit-if-swiss-have-to-break-ties-with-eu With referendum day fast approaching, we asked readers of The Local what worries they have about Switzerland's upcoming 'No to 10 million' vote. Whilst many said they were not concerned about others worried about their future in the country. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260603/a-turn-towards-hate-the-worries-our-readers-have-about-switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote Wed, 03 Jun 2026 14:01:17 +0200 a-turn-towards-hate-the-worries-our-readers-have-about-switzerlands-no-to-10-million-vote As the momentum is growing ahead of Switzerland's vote to cap immigration, many parallels are being drawn with the divisive 2016 Brexit referendum in the UK. An expert explains whether the comparison is valid. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260603/striking-parallels-is-switzerlands-anti-immigration-vote-really-another-brexit Wed, 03 Jun 2026 09:01:36 +0200 striking-parallels-is-switzerlands-anti-immigration-vote-really-another-brexit The hard-right initiative seeking to curb the number of foreigners employed in Switzerland would have dire consequences for the country, its opponents have told The Local. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260108/why-the-swiss-anti-immigration-vote-is-a-threat-to-anyone-working-in-switzerland Thu, 08 Jan 2026 12:57:41 +0100 why-the-swiss-anti-immigration-vote-is-a-threat-to-anyone-working-in-switzerland If the far-right's ‘No to 10 million’ initiative is accepted in the June 14th referendum, Switzerland could become a hub of criminal and terrorist activity, a law enforcement official said. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260601/switzerlands-security-to-be-seriously-compromised-if-anti-immigration-vote-wins Mon, 01 Jun 2026 12:07:51 +0200 switzerlands-security-to-be-seriously-compromised-if-anti-immigration-vote-wins Swiss voters will go to the ballot box on June 14th to vote on a proposal to limit the country's population by drastically reducing immigration. How worried are you if the anti-foreigner vote passes? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260529/tell-us-are-you-concerned-about-switzerlands-anti-immigration-referendum Fri, 29 May 2026 16:29:31 +0200 tell-us-are-you-concerned-about-switzerlands-anti-immigration-referendum The latest opinion polls suggest Swiss voters will back the 'No to 10 million' proposal aimed at limiting immigration in Switzerland. So what will happen after the June 14th vote if that happens? https://www.thelocal.ch/20260521/what-happens-next-if-swiss-voters-approve-no-to-10-million-initiative Thu, 21 May 2026 13:00:15 +0200 what-happens-next-if-swiss-voters-approve-no-to-10-million-initiative So far, mosty Swiss opponents have spoken out against the far-right’s ‘No to 10 million’ initiative. But as the June 14th referendum date is getting closer, criticism is coming from abroad as well. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260529/a-covert-attack-eu-lawmakers-slam-swiss-anti-immigration-vote Fri, 29 May 2026 10:00:42 +0200 a-covert-attack-eu-lawmakers-slam-swiss-anti-immigration-vote Among various potential consequences of the approval of the immigration-curbing proposal, a new study also warns about bottlenecks and congestion at Swiss borders. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260527/switzerland-to-be-hit-by-massive-traffic-jams-if-no-to-10-million-vote-wins Wed, 27 May 2026 15:15:05 +0200 switzerland-to-be-hit-by-massive-traffic-jams-if-no-to-10-million-vote-wins The Swiss will vote next month on an initiative to cap the population at 10 million -- an anti-immigration proposal that is fracturing public opinion in the wealthy Alpine nation. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260525/swiss-divided-as-population-cap-vote-nears Mon, 25 May 2026 10:35:09 +0200 swiss-divided-as-population-cap-vote-nears With its ‘No to 10 million’ initiative, the far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP) seeks to cap immigration from the European Union. But one of the party’s leaders actually recruits foreign employees for her company. https://www.thelocal.ch/20260520/prominent-backer-of-swiss-anti-immigration-plan-under-spotlight-for-hiring-eu-workers Wed, 20 May 2026 15:49:06 +0200 prominent-backer-of-swiss-anti-immigration-plan-under-spotlight-for-hiring-eu-workers