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SWITZERLAND: Election Won by Anti-Immigration Party
October 22, 2015
In a week where Canada elected a clear Liberal majority to oust the sitting Conservative party, the Swiss People”s Party (SVP), an anti-immigration party in Switzerland, won the largest share of votes during the national parliamentary election with a record 29.4% of the vote. This result has led to Swiss media declaring a “Rechtsrutsch” or “slide to the right” as the SVP, as well as a number of smaller right-wing parties, now command a majority in the National Council, Switzerland”s lower house.
The SVP were at the forefront of the campaign to impose immigration quotas, a campaign that was successfully accepted in a February 2014 referendum. The result of the referendum and the latest right-wing gains will keep pressure on the Swiss capital to take a staunch approach with the EU as it looks to impose increased limits on foreigners living in the state. This is despite any action directly contradicting the EU’s freedom of movement principle, a principle which Switzerland had previously agreed to adhere to.
It is thought that this boost in support for the SVP is due to the current migration crisis in Europe. “The vote was clear”, SVP leader Toni Brunner said, “The people are worried about mass migration to Europe.” Switzerland has pledged to participate in the EU’s controversial scheme to relocate 120,000 refugees from Italy and Greece, however the state is taking in far fewer migrants than Germany.
In a week where Canada elected a clear Liberal majority to oust the sitting Conservative party, the Swiss People”s Party (SVP), an anti-immigration party in Switzerland, won the largest share of votes during the national parliamentary election with a record 29.4% of the vote. This result has led to Swiss media declaring a “Rechtsrutsch” or “slide to the right” as the SVP, as well as a number of smaller right-wing parties, now command a majority in the National Council, Switzerland”s lower house.
The SVP were at the forefront of the campaign to impose immigration quotas, a campaign that was successfully accepted in a February 2014 referendum. The result of the referendum and the latest right-wing gains will keep pressure on the Swiss capital to take a staunch approach with the EU as it looks to impose increased limits on foreigners living in the state. This is despite any action directly contradicting the EU’s freedom of movement principle, a principle which Switzerland had previously agreed to adhere to.
It is thought that this boost in support for the SVP is due to the current migration crisis in Europe. “The vote was clear”, SVP leader Toni Brunner said, “The people are worried about mass migration to Europe.” Switzerland has pledged to participate in the EU’s controversial scheme to relocate 120,000 refugees from Italy and Greece, however the state is taking in far fewer migrants than Germany.
Should you need any advice regarding Swiss immigration, please do not hesitate to contact us.
