In what was a significant defeat for Europe’s nationalist anti-immigrant far-right, Swiss voters have decisively rejected a referendum to cap the country’s rising population at 10 million. The ballot triggered by the country’s largest political party, the right-wing Swiss People’s Party (SVP), was seen by many as an anti-EU moment. It was rejected by 55 to 45 per cent and was opposed strongly by urban voters, border regions, and French-speaking areas.Coming against the background of rising anti-immigrant feeling in Europe, the size of the no vote surprised many, and defied pre-ballot polling estimates. The referendum was opposed by the government, business and trade unions who warned that it would jeopardise growth and hinder access to immigrant labour, needed by the country’s ageing population of 9.1 million.The measure, if the threshold of 10 million people was exceeded before 2050, would have forced the government to withdraw from the country’s free movement agreement with the EU, ending its access to the union’s single market. It would also have meant tougher restrictions on family reunification, residency permits and asylum.Switzerland’s population has grown by 23 per cent since a 2002 free movement agreement with the EU, far faster than that of surrounding states. Resulting pressures on infrastructure and housing were central issues. The ballot also played into anti-Islamic prejudice with one group, the Egerkinger Komitee, launching an online game, “Protect Switzerland instead of creeping Islamisation”, in which players acted as border guards. The referendum was one of many plebiscites in recent years under the country’s direct democracy system, which allows groups of 100,000 to initiate ballots. It also came at a time when Switzerland’s trading relationship with the US has been disrupted by Trump tariffs and the government had warned against damaging the country’s close ties and trade with the EU. The result was rightly welcomed by EU states, though the level of support for the referendum was notable