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Switzerland Voters Reject Limiting Immigration from EU

VOA News

   Voters inSwitzerlandrejecteda proposed limit onimmigration from
   European Unioncountries inanational referendum Sunday.

   The freedom-of-movement proposalput forthby the populist Swiss People's
   Partywas defeated,with only38%of voters approving the measure.

   The intent ofthePeople's Party was toprioritizeaccess to jobs, social
   protection and benefits to Swiss citizens over those from the 27
   countries of the EU, of which Switzerland is not a member.'¯

   Criticsof the proposalmaintained that would have beendisadvantageousto
   Swiss citizens wanting to live or work in any EU member countries.

   The President of theEuropean Commission Ursula von der Leyenwelcomedthe
   result, saying that it upheld "one of the core pillars of our
   relationship: the mutual freedom to move, to live and to work in
   Switzerland and the EU."

   About 1.4 million EU citizens live in Switzerland, a country of roughly
   8.2 million, while some 500,000 Swiss live in EU member countries.

   Regarding domestic issues included in the ballot, more than60 percentof
   votersfavoredextending parental leave to fathers, which like maternity
   leave affordsparents 80 percent of their salary, up to 196Swissfrancs
   per day.

   The$6.5 billion fighter jet purchase, an issue debated for about a
   decade, received a yes vote with only 50.1% in favor.

   Swiss voters rejected an attempt to make it easier to shoot
   wolvesconsidereda threat to livestock.

   The turnoutof about 60% in Sunday's referendumwasconsiderablyhigher
   than in most recent referendums.

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