Representatives of the Swiss People's Party stand next to a banner reading in German: "No 10 million Switzerland!". The country’s current population is 9.1 million people and Switzerland has a high level of immigration, as people are drawn by its high wages and quality of life. Domestic support for the vote is high, with rising frustration at housing shortages and what proponents have decried as “unchecked immigration”. The SVP, the country’s largest party, argues the “population explosion” is overwhelming infrastructure, destroying the environment and driving rents even higher. Initiatives normally start with a high degree of people saying they would vote yes but it decreases as the vote approaches,” he said.

Source: The Irish Times February 13, 2026 01:10 UTC