Swiss anti-immigration referendum fails. By Lukas Leuzinger.

Today, Swiss voters rejected a proposal to cap the country’s population at 10 million. Switzerland is home to around nine million people today, and the initiative — launched by the Right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP) — sought to curb immigration in order to keep the population below that threshold. It was defeated, but only narrowly, with support projected at around 45%.

The result is striking. While the SVP is Switzerland’s largest party, it typically wins only around 30% of the vote. The initiative, therefore, appears to have attracted significant backing beyond the party’s own base, despite opposition from every other major political party. …

The fear of damaging Switzerland’s relationship with the EU was the central argument used by opponents of the initiative.

Next time. It’s obvious to everyone which way the tide is changing.