This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-35680760

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Swiss vote on whether to expel foreigners for minor crimes Swiss voters 'reject' plan to expel foreigners for minor crimes
(about 3 hours later)
People in Switzerland are voting on whether to automatically expel foreigners who commit minor crimes. People in Switzerland are on course to reject a plan to automatically expel foreigners who commit minor crimes, early projections suggest.
The proposal has been put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party.The proposal has been put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party.
The vote comes as unease grows among Swiss people at rising immigration and the social problems which, the People's Party says, come with it. The vote comes amid growing unease at rising immigration and the problems which, the party says, come with it.
But opponents say the law will create a two-tier justice system which will unfairly target foreigners who make up around 25% of Switzerland's population. But opponents said the law would create a two-tier justice system unfairly targeting foreigners, who make up around 25% of Switzerland's population.
Almost two million foreign passport holders live permanently and legally in Switzerland, but as gaining Swiss nationality is a complicated and expensive procedure, and is not conferred automatically at birth, these foreign nationals include many who have never lived outside of Switzerland.Almost two million foreign passport holders live permanently and legally in Switzerland, but as gaining Swiss nationality is a complicated and expensive procedure, and is not conferred automatically at birth, these foreign nationals include many who have never lived outside of Switzerland.
The Swiss government says only two in every 100 foreigners living in Switzerland have been granted Swiss citizenship.The Swiss government says only two in every 100 foreigners living in Switzerland have been granted Swiss citizenship.
More than five million people are entitled to vote in the referendum; only Swiss nationals get to vote. More than five million people were entitled to vote in the referendum; only Swiss nationals get to vote.
A projection by the gfs.bern polling institute suggested that 59% of voters said "No" to the proposal. The official result is expected later on Sunday.
If adopted, the proposal known as the "Enforcement Initiative" would strengthen moves adopted in 2010 to deport foreigners convicted of murder or sexual violence.If adopted, the proposal known as the "Enforcement Initiative" would strengthen moves adopted in 2010 to deport foreigners convicted of murder or sexual violence.
The Swiss People's Party is now seeking automatic deportation with no right of appeal if a foreigner commits two minor offences within 10 years such as speeding or arguing with a police officer. The Swiss People's Party is now seeking automatic deportation with no right of appeal if a foreigner commits two minor offences within 10 years such as speeding or arguing with a police officer.
Supporters of the proposals say it will make Switzerland a safer place, and point to statistics indicating that foreigners make up a disproportionately large part of the prison population. If approved, those would be some of the strictest laws on foreigners in Europe, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says.
Opinion polls suggest the vote will be close.
But if the Swiss do vote 'Yes', they will have adopted some of the strictest laws on foreigners in Europe, the BBC's Imogen Foulkes in Geneva says.