Thread: Swiss voters take hard line on asylum and immigration

September 24, 2006 - 5:48 PM
Swiss voters take hard line on asylum and immigration

Asylum seekers in Switzerland face some of the harshest rules in Europe.

Swiss voters have overwhelmingly approved tougher regulations on asylum seekers as well as new limits on immigration for people from outside the European Union.

But an initiative to prop up the country's ailing old-age pension scheme with profits from the National Bank failed to win a majority at the ballot box.

Around 68 per cent of voters endorsed amended laws on asylum and immigration in Sunday's vote, according to official results. All 26 cantons were also behind the measures, which were approved last year by parliament.

The United Nations Refugee Agency, which had criticised the new asylum legislation, said the Switzerland's laws would now be among the toughest in Europe.

The staunchest supporters of the new laws were in rural areas of German-speaking central and eastern Switzerland. The majorities in French-speaking regions were lower, as is normally the case with votes pertaining to foreigners.

Turnout was above average at 48 per cent.

Implementation

A coalition of centre-left parties, trade unions, churches and aid organisations had forced the vote, arguing that the reforms went against Switzerland's humanitarian tradition.

But they failed to undermine the government's argument that harsher measures against asylum abuses were necessary to avoid social tension and provide protection for those fleeing persecution.

The government said it was pleased with the outcome of the vote.

"It is not my victory, but it is an important decision," said Justice Minister Christoph Blocher, who was at the forefront of the reform.

He added that the new measures would be strictly implemented and without delay.

Opponents of the reform, led by former Interior Minister Ruth Dreifuss, did not hide their displeasure.

"We are disappointed but not discouraged," Dreifuss said, adding that she hoped for a humane application of the new laws.

What's this? Old age insurance
Pension fund

The pension fund proposal was rejected by over 58 per cent of voter and all but three cantons, Geneva, Basel City and Ticino.

Finance Minister Hans-Rudolf Merz said a clear majority of voters had obviously understood that the plan by the centre-left Social Democrats and the trade unions was not sustainable and failed to tackle the structural problems of the state old age pension system.

However, Rudolf Rechsteiner, a Social Democratic parliamentarian who was the driving force behind the initiative, said he would not give up the fight despite Sunday's defeat. He vowed to block any efforts by to weaken the main pillar of Switzerland's social security system.

The proponents wanted to use part of the annual profits of the National Bank to plug expected shortfalls in the state pension scheme, which is facing huge deficits because of the country's ageing population.

Currently the money is divided between the country's 26 cantons (two-thirds), and the federal government.

The cabinet also pledged to contribute SFr7 billion ($5.66 billion) from the one-off sale of excess gold reserves to the old-age pension benefits.

SUBSTANCE OF THE NEW LAWS:

Asylum applicants who cannot produce identity papers within 48 hours without a credible reason are automatically excluded. Rejected asylum seekers are barred from regular welfare benefits and qualify only for food and shelter.

Rejected asylum seekers who refuse to leave the country face prison terms of up to two years.

The amended law on foreigners limits immigration for citizens outside the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (Efta) to highly skilled labour.

It also aims to encourage integration, in particular by language courses, while cracking down on human trafficking and marriages of convenience.

CONTEXT

It is the ninth time since 1984 that Switzerland's asylum law has been amended. Five of the proposals to tighten the regulations were approved in nationwide votes.

Under a bilateral treaty agreed with Brussels, EU citizens are not subject to immigration restrictions. But there is a sizeable community of people from Balkan countries and Turkey living in Switzerland.

The old age pension scheme is the central pillar of the country's social security system, which is funded by contributions from employers, employees and the state. It aims to provide minimum coverage for all people over 65 (men) and 64 (women).


KEY FACTS

Asylum law: 67.7% yes, 32.3% no Immigration law: 68% yes, 32% no Pension fund: 41.7% yes, 58,3% no Turnout: 48.2%
RELATED SITES

Referendum committee against asylum and immigration laws (German, French) Pension fund initiative committee (German, French, Italian) Old age pension scheme Foreign nationals law Asylum law swissinfo geo politics - vote breakdown by canton (German) Vote results - Federal Statistics Office (German, French)

http://www.swissinfo.org/eng/swissinfo. ... id=7095607

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My mother in law immigrated from Switzerland 50 years ago. She goes back now and then to visit. She should be interested in seeing this article. It took her 5 years to get US citizenship and she taught herself and her 5 children English and only English.

She has said that years ago they had and influx of immigrants legal and illegal in Switzerland doing the jobs the Swiss did not want to do, but deported them when their numbers grew too large. They were worried about their culture changing. This took place 50 years ago. Illegal immigration effects culture and nationality and when a country wants to preserve it's culture and language I think it's time to intervene.

Assimilation is a very important issue when dealing with immigration. If you come to America, you are joining our house as I've heard others say recently. My mother n law joined our house and demanded her children speak English and assimilate into the culture. This is not to say you don't admire your lineage, but all loyalty is for America plain and simple.

This is great to see in Switzerland. A fair, neutral, pleasant practical people doing the right thing to save their country.

Wake Up America...It's Our Turn Now.

Just like the Australians; the Swiss are looking out for their countries best interests. They are smart and know that political correctness will destroy their country. Germany is now seeing the problems of guest worker programs and they may be the next ones to end their immigration nightmare. Turks were allowed to work under a work program and never left. They got married and had children who were citizens. The unemployment rate of these Turks is now higher than the Germans. It is costing them too much money and they are looking at solutions.