Zurich: Switzerland is preparing for a referendum to limit its population to no more than 10 million people. Swiss citizens are set to hold a national referendum on June 16 on a proposal initiated by the right-wing, anti-immigration party, to enact legislation capping the permanent population of Switzerland at 10 million by 2050.

According to Thai News Agency, this proposal, titled "No to a Switzerland with 10 million! (Sustainability Initiative)," is a concept initiated by the Swiss People's Party (SVP), a right-wing political party with an anti-immigration policy, to control the rapidly increasing population resulting from immigration from other countries. Currently, Switzerland's population has exceeded 9.1 million, of which more than a quarter are foreign residents.

If this proposal passes the referendum and becomes law, if the population reaches 9.5 million before 2050, the Council of State and Parliament will have to immediately enact legislation to restrict migration, such as stricter asylum applications and limitations on the right to bring families along. If the population continues to grow to 10 million, Switzerland will have to terminate international agreements that contribute to population growth, including the agreement on the free movement of people with the European Union (EU), within two years.

The SVP party is pushing this proposal into law to protect infrastructure from overcrowding, control soaring rent and housing prices that are causing shortages, and prevent uncontrolled migration. Opponents argue it will undermine the attraction of world-class talent, exacerbate labor shortages in the healthcare and IT sectors, and jeopardize free trade agreements with the EU. The Swiss research institute Demografik estimates that limiting population growth could reduce the country's GDP by up to 12 percent by the end of the century due to structural labor shortages.

A public opinion poll by GfS Bern and LeeWas indicates that the votes for and against the proposal are very close. Under Switzerland's direct democracy, for this proposal to pass into law, it needs a majority of both the general public and the majority of the various cantons.