ZURICH: Swiss voters are evenly split on whether to back a referendum proposal to restrict Switzerland’s population to 10 million, an opinion poll showed on Friday.
The Swiss government is opposed to the initiative championed by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) that goes to a vote on June 14, saying it will damage cooperation with the European Union, its key trade partner, and hurt the economy.
The proposal stipulates the permanent resident population must not exceed 10 million before 2050, and that Switzerland should end its freedom of movement accord with the EU.
The new survey by polling firm GfS Bern for public broadcaster SRG conducted from April 20 to May 3, showed 47 per cent of 19,728 respondents in favour of the proposal and 47 per cent against.
