At the end of 2025, Switzerland had 9.1 million inhabitants. Since the free movement of people with the EU came into force in 2002, the population has grown by about 1.7 million, mainly due to immigration. On June 14, Swiss citizens vote on a popular initiative that wants to put a limit on that.
The "Pas de Suisse à 10 millions" initiative states that the permanent resident population should not exceed 10 million by 2050. If there are more than 9.5 million before that date, the government must take measures, especially on asylum and family reunification, and renegotiate international agreements that favor population growth. If the figure exceeds 10 million, Switzerland will have to denounce those agreements, including the free movement of people agreement with the EU. That would automatically expire Bilateral I, the set of agreements that today regulates Switzerland's relationship with Europe. The Federal Council and Parliament recommend voting against.
What makes this situation peculiar is the following: if you have been living in Switzerland for years, working, paying taxes, contributing to the system, this vote affects you directly. The rules of family reunification, the conditions of renewal of permits, the agreements that regulate your employment status as a European citizen... all that can change. And you can't vote. Those who can will decide, among other things, the conditions in which you or your family can stay here. It is not a new situation, it is simply Swiss direct democracy, with its virtues and also with this concrete detail that is especially noticeable when the subject of the vote is you.
It's not cause for alarm. The Federal Council is opposed, the majority of Parliament is opposed. But it is a debate that exists, it is underway, and it is worth knowing exactly what is voted on.