Swiss say no to anti-migrant fears
Voters back move to make getting citizenship easier
GENEVA // Swiss voters yesterday approved a measure to make it easier for third-generation immigrants to become citizens, crushing right- wing nationalists who had stoked fears about granting nationality to more Muslims. The “Yes” camp claimed 60 per cent support and victory in 19 of Switzerland’s 26 cantons, meeting the two criteria needed to win.
The government, as well as most politicians of all parties, supported the proposal. It will allow the grandchildren of immigrants to skip several steps in the lengthy process of securing a Swiss passport, although approval of their citizenship will still not be automatic.
The right-wing Swiss Peoples Party (SVP), the largest party in the Swiss parliament, fought against the measure by putting Islam and national identity at the centre of the debate.
Reacting to the defeat, SVP politician Jean-Luc Addor said his side was “alone against everyone in this campaign. The problem of Islam, I’m afraid, will catch up with us in a few years”.
According to a migration department study, fewer than 25,000 people in the country of about eight million qualify as third-generation immigrants, a definition meaning they have at least one grandparent who was born in Switzerland or acquired residency.
Nearly 60 per cent of that group are Italians, followed by those with origins in the Balkans and Turkey. During the campaign, Mr Addor warned that thirdgeneration immigrants would increasingly be people “from sub-Saharan Africa, the Horn of Africa, Syria or Afghanistan”. The “No” camp faced heavy criticism for a poster showing a woman staring out from under a black niqab with a tagline urging voters to reject “uncontrolled citizenship”.
There are an estimated 350,000 Muslims resident in Switzerland.
Yesterday’s referendum was part of Switzerland’s direct democracy system that includes four votes each year on subjects affecting federal as well as local laws and institutions.