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Swiss vote on third-generation immigrants' citizenship rights Swiss vote to ease citizenship process for third-generation immigrants
(about 1 hour later)
Switzerland has begun voting on whether to make it easier for third-generation immigrants to become citizens, after a campaign tainted by anti-Muslim messages and charges of religious prejudice. Swiss voters have approved measures to make it easier for third-generation immigrants to become citizens, dismissing claims that the move could pose a security threat.
Sunday’s vote on facilitated naturalisation is one of four reserved annually for plebiscites on subjects that affect federal as well as local laws and institutions. Projections by public broadcaster SRF after polls closed at midday on Sunday showed the measure easily winning by a 59%-41% margin. Most people had already voted by post.
Voting ends at noon and initial results are expected shortly after. Most people have already voted by post. Rightwing activists had used posters showing a woman in a niqab with the slogan “no unchecked naturalisation” to campaign against the proposal, which was backed by the government and parliament.
The Swiss government and a majority of MPs and political parties support the proposal, which would allow the grandchildren of immigrants to skip several steps in the lengthy process of securing a Swiss passport. About one-quarter of Switzerland’s population is foreign, a relatively high rate in comparison with other countries that make it easier for the children and grandchildren of immigrants to become citizens.
But the outcome of the referendum has been clouded by the rightwing, nationalist Swiss People’s party (SVP), which put Islam and national identity at the centre of the debate. The government had lobbied for the measure, which would help many young people born and raised in Switzerland after their grandparents moved to the country. Under the current system, they face a lengthy and often expensive process to secure a Swiss passport.
The constitutional amendment simplifies, but does not make automatic, naturalisation for well-integrated people aged 25 or under who were born in Switzerland, went to school there for at least five years, share Swiss cultural values, speak a national language and do not depend on state aid.
Sunday’s vote on facilitated naturalisation was one of four reserved annually for plebiscites on subjects that affect federal as well as local laws and institutions.
The outcome of the referendum had been made uncertain by the rightwing, nationalist Swiss People’s party (SVP), which put Islam and national identity at the centre of the debate.
According to a migration department study, fewer than 25,000 people in the country of about 8 million qualify as third-generation immigrants, meaning they have at least one grandparent who was born in Switzerland or acquired residency.According to a migration department study, fewer than 25,000 people in the country of about 8 million qualify as third-generation immigrants, meaning they have at least one grandparent who was born in Switzerland or acquired residency.
Nearly 60% of these are Italian, followed by those from the Balkans or Turkey. Nearly 60% of these are Italian, followed by people from the Balkans or Turkey.
Initial debate on the proposal had nothing to do with religion, said Sophie Guignard of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern. But then the SVP, a party repeatedly accused of demonising Islam, focused on the risks of more Muslims becoming citizens and the possible “loss of Swiss values”, Guignard said.Initial debate on the proposal had nothing to do with religion, said Sophie Guignard of the Institute of Political Science at the University of Bern. But then the SVP, a party repeatedly accused of demonising Islam, focused on the risks of more Muslims becoming citizens and the possible “loss of Swiss values”, Guignard said.
Central to that effort was a widely distributed poster showing a woman staring out from a black niqab with a tagline urging voters to reject “uncontrolled citizenship”. The SVP was not officially responsible for the poster, which was commissioned by the Committee Against Facilitated Citizenship, but the group has several SVP members in leadership positions. Central to that effort was a widely distributed poster showing a woman in a black niqab with a tagline urging voters to reject “uncontrolled citizenship”. The SVP was not officially responsible for the poster, which was commissioned by the Committee Against Facilitated Citizenship, but the group has several SVP members in leadership positions.
Jean-Luc Addor, the co-chair of the committee and SVP lawmaker, urged people to reject the proposal because soon, most third-generation immigrants would not be of European origin. Jean-Luc Addor, the co-chair of the committee and SVP lawmaker, had urged people to reject the proposal on the grounds that soon, most third-generation immigrants would not be of European origin.
“In one or two generations, who will these third-generation foreigners be?” he wrote in an opinion piece on the SVP website. “They will be born of the Arab spring, they will be from sub-Saharan Africa, the Horn of Africa, Syria or Afghanistan,” said Addor, who has defended the niqab poster. “In one or two generations, who will these third-generation foreigners be?” he wrote in an opinion piece on the SVP website. “They will be born of the Arab spring, they will be from sub-Saharan Africa, the Horn of Africa, Syria or Afghanistan.”
Guignard said mainstream politicians and journalists viewed the poster as “a violent attack against Muslims”.Guignard said mainstream politicians and journalists viewed the poster as “a violent attack against Muslims”.
In 2009, the SVP successfully persuaded Swiss voters to approve a ban on new mosque minaret construction, while religiously charged messages have been a part of subsequent immigration referendums.In 2009, the SVP successfully persuaded Swiss voters to approve a ban on new mosque minaret construction, while religiously charged messages have been a part of subsequent immigration referendums.
Latest polls show that between 55% and 66% of people support easier citizenship for third-generation immigrants, with 31-44% against.
The no side has, however, gained about 10 percentage points since polling opened, with analysts saying an upset cannot be ruled out.