Crowded house?

Switzerland’s population is growing – quicker than many people would like. Our number increases by one person every six minutes and 54 seconds. It sounds like a fun fact from the Federal Statistical Office, but it also speaks to one of the most contentious issues of our day.

Over nine million people now live in Switzerland. It could be over ten million in a few decades’ time. For many, this shows how successful our economy is. For others, it is a cause for concern. The “No to a Switzerland of 10 million” initiative, which will be put to voters on 14 June 2026, advocates setting a population cap and drastically curbing immigration.

Without migrant workers, many things that we take for granted would grind to a halt. People from all around the world work in our hospitals, on our building sites, in our restaurants, at our research centres – and elsewhere. They contribute to prosperity and help to mitigate the effects of an ageing population. But growth comes at a price in our towns and cities – where there are housing shortages and packed commuter trains, and where pressure on green spaces and infrastructure is mounting.

It can also be crowded in places you least expect. Nearly 100,000 privately owned boats are registered in Switzerland. Finding a mooring in Geneva is just as hard as landing an apartment in Zurich. The waiting list for a rare and precious berth is long. I wonder: shall we also cap the number of boats?

But the initiative is no laughing matter for the more than 530,000 Swiss who currently live in European countries. Free movement makes it easy to live, work or start a company in the European Union. An end to free movement could have a material impact on the residence status and everyday lives of many Swiss Abroad. Ultimately, capping the country’s population at ten million would lead to this scenario. This is why the 14 June vote is also a test of public sentiment regarding Swiss-EU relations.

The associated debate also touches on a lot of what makes Switzerland successful. But Switzerland also has other stories to tell. Like the seamstress who creates made-to-measure Swiss folk dresses. Or Metalchurch, Switzerland’s first-ever recognised congregation based on a specific style of music. Tradition and innovation in juxtaposition – maybe this is the key to our nation’s success. After all, there are two sides to every story, aren’t there?

WALTER SCHMID, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF