Heated debate about Switzerland's 10 million people Trade unionist fires back at SVP: "This is complete nonsense"
Switzerland is facing a choice of direction: Should the Swiss resident population be capped at 10 million? The fronts are hardened, as a trade union debate in Zurich demonstrated.
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- At a trade union debate in Zurich, SP Federal Councillor Beat Jans campaigned for a No to the SVP initiative "No 10 million Swiss".
- At the subsequent panel discussion, opponents criticized an impending break with Europe and warned of economic damage and a shortage of skilled workers.
- One SVP National Councillor, however, sees the bill as a necessary means of controlling migration.
On June 14, Swiss voters will decide on the SVP's "No 10 million Swiss" initiative. The proposal demands that the permanent resident population in Switzerland should not exceed 10 million people before 2050.
Should the population be capped and immigration significantly restricted? Will the initiative force us to terminate the bilateral agreements? And who will pay the price if the free movement of persons ceases? The questions are polarizing and the public debate is already emotionally charged: The Yes camp is talking about the "sustainability" initiative, the opponents about the "chaos" initiative.
The fact that the result of the vote is crucial for the future of the country is also demonstrated by the commitment of the Federal Council: Justice Minister Beat Jans is currently touring Switzerland to campaign for a No vote. Last week, he attended events organized by the Bern Trade Union Federation and the pharmaceutical company Novartis in Basel, and on Thursday he gave a lecture to trade unionists in Zurich.
Contradictory panel discussion
The SP magistrate remained true to his arguments at all his appearances. The initiative would destroy bridges to Europe and problems in this country such as scarce living space, full trains, traffic jams and crime would remain unsolved.
Because a Federal Councillor is obliged to provide factual information about a proposal, Jans left the sharp tongue to Daniel Lampart. Together with National Councillors Barbara Steinemann (SVP) and Nicole Barandun (Die Mitte), the Chief Economist of the Swiss Federation of Trade Unions (SGB) took part in a panel discussion at the Weisser Wind restaurant in Zurich's Oberdorf district following Jans' speech.
There was agreement that the vote was far-reaching - but disagreement as to why. For Barandun and Lampart, the initiative is a breach of the bilateral agreements. For Steinemann, it is a necessary reaction to "uncontrolled immigration": "Our population has increased by 27 percent since 2000. This is an enormous burden on the environment and infrastructure."
"Politically and economically a complete nonsense"
"I think this initiative is extremely dangerous. If we break with the EU, it's complete nonsense, both politically and economically," disagreed Lampart. Without immigration, Switzerland would face a massive shortage of skilled workers. Barandun added: "If companies can no longer fill their vacancies, they will have to close."
Steinemann countered: "Even if the initiative is accepted, immigration is still possible - simply controlled." In addition, there are also numerous unemployed Swiss nationals in sectors such as the hospitality industry, which traditionally employs many foreign workers, who could cushion a potential shortage of skilled workers.
According to Steinemann, a yes vote does not automatically mean the end of the free movement of persons: "Our diplomats will have to negotiate this with the EU."
Bad hospitals to reduce the population?
Lampert takes a completely different view: "The text of the initiative is crystal clear. The free movement of persons would fall." The SVP is hoping for a return to the seasonal worker system as Switzerland knew it before the turn of the millennium. Back then, Swiss companies were able to employ foreign workers for a few months at a low wage and with hardly any social benefits.
Lampert fears drastic effects in the healthcare sector, for example: "Would you like to be treated in a hospital where the staff is changed every six months? Not me." According to the SGB chief economist, patient mortality would increase - similar to what happened in the UK after Brexit. In this respect, the initiative is "actually the best program to reduce the population in Switzerland".
Steinemann then asked her discussion partner to "please remain serious". One thing seems clear: the referendum campaign has only just begun, but there is already a lot of heat.
