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Swiss vote on expulsions of foreigners who break the law Swiss projected to reject plan to expel foreign criminals
(35 minutes 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. GENEVA — Projections based on returns from some polling stations Sunday indicate that Swiss voters have rejected a proposal by a nationalist party to automatically expel 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. The political research group gfs.bern predicted a majority of Swiss had voted against the plan put forward by the Swiss People’s Party, Swiss public broadcaster SRF reported shortly after polls closed at noon Sunday.
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. Switzerland has voted repeatedly in recent years to tighten the country’s immigration laws and deport foreigners found guilty of crimes.
Critics say the measure would stigmatize foreigners unfairly but the right-wing party insists it is the people’s will. But the People’s Party, which campaigns heavily against immigration, said a law passed following a 2010 referendum didn’t go far enough. It called for automatic expulsions for severe crimes like rape or murder, but also in cases of low-level crimes such as speeding or insulting police if they are committed twice within a ten-year span.
Some voters were reluctant to share their thoughts about the referendum, while others openly expressed their anger about the proposal. Critics of the proposal said it was “inhuman” and would effectively create a two-tier justice system that treats Switzerland’s two million or so foreigners — about a quarter of the population — more harshly. Opponents said the measure would skirt the courts, by making expulsions an administrative formality and by stripping judges of their ability to weigh the merits of individual cases.
The federal statistics office estimated that more than 10,000 people could be affected by expulsions if the initiative passes.
Some voters were reluctant to share their thoughts ahead of 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.”“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.”“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.”
Public debate over the initiative, called “for the effective expulsion of foreign criminals,” was unusually fierce by Swiss standards.
The People’s Party’s campaign posters showed a white sheep atop a Swiss flag, kicking away a black sheep. Opponents of the proposal released an electronic advertisement at major train stations showing a tattered swastika next to a large “No” to the referendum and a list showing “2016 Switzerland” after 1933 Nazi Germany and 1948 in apartheid South Africa.
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Frank Jordans in Berlin contributed to this report.
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.