In a stunning blow to the world’s supply of cuckoo clocks and fondue, Swiss voters have rejected a proposed cap of 10 million population. The referendum, which would have introduced an immigration limit as draconian as a Geneva hotel minibar price list, was defeated with 63% of voters opting to keep the borders open. Bizarrely, the pro-cap campaign cited the United Kingdom’s ‘sovereignty model’ as an inspiration, presumably the version where we spend six years arguing about blue passports and bendy bananas.
One can only imagine Swiss MPs now solemnly citing British parliamentary debates on whether to rename the Alpine nation ‘Switzerland Plc’ or charter a fleet of yachts to patrol Lake Geneva. The ‘No’ camp celebrated with a collective shrug, having decided that a few more German bankers and Italian baristas is a price worth paying for continued access to the world’s best chocolate. Meanwhile, the Swiss People’s Party (SVP) has promised to return with yet another initiative, possibly proposing a cap on the number of referendums.
The UK government, for its part, has expressed support for the losing side, noting that the SVP model is ‘perfectly aligned with our own thinking,’ by which they mean they’ll claim credit for unrelated foreign votes while simultaneously ignoring their own domestic chaos. As the Alpine air clears, one thing is certain: Switzerland remains a neutral haven for tax evasion, chocolate consumption, and now, apparently, a functioning democracy that doesn’t immediately combust when faced with a simple yes or no question. Over to you, Westminster.
