Updated | Switzerland votes to relax citizenship laws
Majority of Swiss voters back proposal to loosen citizenship laws for third-generation immigrants, despite rightwing campaign against it
Opponents of the proposal say the reform could lead to uncontrolled citizenship
Swiss voters have approved measures to make it easier for third-generation immigrants to become citizens, dismissing warnings that such a move could pose a security threat.
Projections by public broadcaster SRF after polls closed at midday on Sunday indicated that the proposal had easily won by a 59%-41% margin.
People born in Switzerland do not automatically qualify for citizenship and non-Swiss residents must typically wait 12 years before applying. Tests and government interviews are also required, which can be expensive.
The proposal, supported by the government and other opposition parties, will allow third-generation immigrants to avoid some of that bureaucracy. It will only affect those born in Switzerland, whose parents and grandparents also lived in the country permanently. It is estimated that there are some 25,000 third generation immigrants in Switzerland, around 60% of who are Italian.
“In the end these are young people who live here, who were born here, their parents were born here, the grandparents probably came here, these are people who are at home, the only difference is that they do not have a red [Swiss] passport,” Simonetta Sommaruga, head of the Federal Department of Justice, said.
However, opponents – spearheaded by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party – had warned that the proposal will open the door to more Muslim immigrations. An opposition poster, which features a woman in a burka, suggests that the new proposal could lead to a so-called "Islamisation" of the country.
