A pivotal referendum will take place in Switzerland on June 10, driven by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), which has proposed instituting a cap on the country's population at 10 million. The initiative, titled "No to a 10-Million Switzerland," requires that the government and parliament intervene if the permanent population surpasses 9.5 million. Currently, Switzerland's population stands at 9.1 million, and the proposal has stirred considerable debate regarding immigration policies and national identity.

The proposed measures would mean that if the population reaches 10 million, additional restrictions would be implemented, and, should the population fail to decline thereafter, Switzerland may withdraw from its free movement agreement with the EU. Over the past decade, the Swiss population has been growing at a pace five times faster than that of other countries, driven largely by economic opportunities that attract both unskilled labor and highly skilled professionals. This rapid growth is raising alarms among certain political factions concerned about integration and resource management.

Government data indicates that 27 percent of the population in Switzerland comprises foreign nationals, which reflects the country’s reliance on foreign labor. The referendum will serve as a litmus test for public sentiment on immigration and will likely have implications for future immigration policies and Switzerland's relationship with the European Union.