The Swiss reject by a large majority abolishing free movement with the EU, according to projections

The Swiss have rejected this Sunday by a large majority an initiative by the populist right to suppress the free movement of people with the EU in order to curb immigration, according to projections published shortly after the polls closed.

According to the polling institute GFS Bern, voters rejected by 63% the so-called limitation initiative launched by the SVP, the largest force in Parliament with 25.6% of the seats, which it had opposite the rest of the formations, to employers and unions.

All of them, in addition to the federal government, asked

to the proposal and highlighted the advantages that Switzerland has achieved with the bilateral agreements signed with Brussels, which give it wide access to the Common Market.

The suspension of the free movement of people, as the SVP intended with the argument that the immigration of community members has been massive since it was approved and is a burden for the small Swiss confederation, also implied the loss of six other agreements with the EU .

A "risky experiment" in times of crisis and difficulties due to the covid-19 pandemic, the federal Executive has argued against the proposal.

It is not the first time that the ultra-nationalists have lost at the polls a consultation that aims against immigration and seeks to reduce ties with the EU, the country's main trading partner.

In 2014, they managed by surprise and with little margin to approve an initiative precisely to cut what they consider to be "massive immigration" - 25% of the 8.6 million inhabitants are foreigners - but Parliament later decaffeinated it with protective measures locals in the labor market to avoid a clash with the EU over the free movement of people.

Switzerland also has a tough internal negotiation pending now to try to approve a new framework agreement with the EU that has been ready since 2018, but does not achieve the necessary consensus in the country.

The result of this Sunday at the polls opens, then, another stage of debate regarding the ties with the Union.

• Switzerland looks to a 'Swixit' in a referendum that could limit the entry of EU citizens

• Switzerland votes to end free movement of people with the EU