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| Swiss vote on expulsions of foreigners who break the law | Swiss vote on expulsions of foreigners who break the law |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| GENEVA — Swiss voters headed to the polls Sunday to decide on a controversial initiative sought by a right-wing, nationalist party that could lead to automatic expulsions of foreigners who commit even low-level crimes. | |
| The referendum follows repeated efforts in recent years to tighten measures against foreigners, but the Swiss People’s Party says they have not gone far enough. | |
| Polls suggest a close race in the balloting that could lead to automatic expulsions for severe crimes like rape or murder, but also in cases of low-level crimes like speeding or insulting police if they are committed twice within a ten-year span. | Polls suggest a close race in the balloting that could lead to automatic expulsions for severe crimes like rape or murder, but also in cases of low-level crimes like speeding or insulting police if they are committed twice within a ten-year span. |
| Critics say the measure would stigmatize foreigners unfairly but the right-wing party insists it is the people’s will. | Critics say the measure would stigmatize foreigners unfairly but the right-wing party insists it is the people’s will. |
| Some voters were reluctant to share their thoughts about the referendum, while others openly expressed their anger about the proposal. | |
| “It infuriates me,” said Ferenc Begyl, an 80-year-old artist, noting he himself arrived as a foreigner from Hungary back in the times “when Switzerland was welcoming.” | |
| “I think this initiative could do a lot of harm to Switzerland,” he said. “It doesn’t address the right problems because criminals come from elsewhere and pass through Switzerland.” | |
| Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. | Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. |