Most Swiss are willing to support an initiative to cap the country’s population at 10 million by 2050, a move that could impact Switzerland’s immigration policy, labor market, and real estate market, according to local media reports.
According to a poll conducted six weeks before the nationwide referendum scheduled for June 14, 2026, 52% of respondents supported the initiative or were inclined to support it, 46% opposed it, and another 2% were undecided. Over 16,000 people participated in the survey.
The “No to 10 Million in Switzerland!” initiative is being promoted by the Swiss People’s Party (SVP). It stipulates that the country’s permanent population should not exceed 10 million people by 2050. Upon reaching an interim threshold of 9.5 million people, the government would be required to implement additional measures to limit immigration, including potentially tightening quotas on work visas and asylum applications. Reuters notes that the proposal also calls for Switzerland to withdraw from the EU agreement on the free movement of citizens.
Supporters of the initiative link the need to limit population growth to the strain on infrastructure, housing shortages, overcrowded public transportation, and rising costs for social and medical services.
The Federal Council and both chambers of parliament recommend rejecting the initiative. Authorities warn that strict restrictions on migration could create legal uncertainty, complicate relations with the European Union, and exacerbate the labor shortage in the economy. Reuters also notes that Switzerland’s population already exceeds 9 million, and the share of foreigners stood at over 27% in 2024.
For the real estate market, the possible adoption of the initiative could have a dual effect. On the one hand, limiting population growth could theoretically reduce long-term pressure on housing demand. On the other hand, stricter immigration rules and a potential reevaluation of relations with the EU could affect Switzerland’s investment appeal, the availability of labor in the construction and service sectors, as well as demand from foreign residents.
According to data from the Swiss State Secretariat for Migration, as of the end of 2024, the largest groups of the country’s permanent foreign population were citizens of Italy—346,981 thousand people, Germany—332,132 thousand, Portugal—263,028, and France—173,353. In total, 1.579 million citizens of EU/EFTA countries and 789,735 citizens of third countries resided permanently in Switzerland.
Ukrainians occupy a distinct place in Switzerland’s migration statistics following the outbreak of full-scale war. According to SEM data, in 2024 the number of individuals with active S protection status rose to 68,070 compared to 66,083 the previous year. This figure can be used as a rough estimate of the number of Ukrainian refugees in the country, although the actual number of Ukrainians in Switzerland may differ due to people holding other types of residence permits.
Over the next two days, March 17 and 18, traffic on several bridges and overpasses in Kyiv will be partially restricted. During this time, specialists from the Kyivavtoputemost municipal enterprise will be repairing sections of the road surface, according to the Kyiv City State Administration.
According to the report, on Tuesday, March 17, repair work will be carried out on the Vozduhoflootsky overpass crossing the railroad tracks on Air Force Avenue, the bridge over the on Povitryanikh Sil Avenue, the overpass on Zhylianska Street, the Northern Bridge, and the overpass at the intersection of Dehtiarivska Street and Mykola Vasylenka Street with Beresteisky Avenue near the “Beresteiska” metro station.
On Wednesday, March 18, traffic will be restricted on the Vozduhoflootsky overpass over the railroad tracks on Povitryanikh Sil Avenue, the bridge over the Lybid River on Povitryanikh Sil Avenue, the overpass on Zhylianska Street, the Northern Bridge, and the overpass over the railroad tracks on Mykoly Vasylenka Street.
“During the work, traffic will be restricted partially and in stages. In the event of deteriorating weather conditions, the schedule for the work may be changed,” the Kyiv City State Administration emphasized.
On Monday, NEC Ukrenergo will restrict electricity supply in all regions of Ukraine.
“Tomorrow, January 26, hourly power cuts and power restrictions (for industrial consumers) will be applied in all regions of Ukraine,” Ukrenergo said in a statement on Telegram.
The reason for the restrictive measures is the consequences of Russian missile and drone attacks on energy facilities, the NEC notes.
The press service of NEC Ukrenergo reports that the situation in the energy system may change.
Traffic restrictions for trucks and large vehicles have been introduced on state roads in the Vinnytsia region due to significant weather deterioration, according to the State Agency for Restoration Telegram.
“Restrictions are being imposed … on the following road sections: M-30 Stryi — Uman — Dnipro — Izvarine (via Vinnytsia, Kropyvnytskyi) km 441 — km 417 (from Nemyriv, Vinnytsia region to the border of Cherkasy region); R-33 Vinnytsia — Turbov — Haysyn — Balta — Velyka Mykhailivka — /M-16/ — km 121 — km 170 (from Haysyn to Obodivka village, Haysyn district, Vinnytsia region),” the information says.
The agency reminded that similar measures are in place in Volyn, Zhytomyr, Rivne, and Lviv regions, and this is extremely important to prevent traffic jams, accidents, and congestion at the borders of neighboring regions.
“The resumption of vehicle traffic will be announced separately,” the agency said.
The Cabinet of Ministers has decided to extend restrictions on the export of timber and scrap metal until the end of 2026, Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced.
“The decision provides for a licensing regime with zero quotas for the export of unprocessed wood, fuel wood, as well as ferrous metal and copper scrap. This allows Ukraine to preserve strategic raw materials and direct them to domestic processing needs,” Svyrydenko wrote on Telegram following Wednesday’s government meeting.
According to her, scrap metal is a critically important raw material for the Ukrainian metallurgical and foundry industries.
“Despite the export duty, scrap exports have been growing, often in transit to third countries without creating added value for Ukraine. Domestic processing, on the contrary, provides jobs, tax revenues, and products necessary for defense and recovery. Also, the use of scrap in metallurgical production reduces CO2 emissions, which is important given the EU requirements,” the prime minister added.
As for timber, she said the government had extended some of the restrictions introduced at the end of October.
During the full-scale war, logging volumes have significantly decreased due to hostilities. At the same time, woodworking enterprises are facing a shortage of raw materials and are forced to idle, while for many rural communities, firewood remains a key resource for heating in winter,” she wrote.
Svyrydenko noted that the extension of restrictions on raw material exports supports Ukrainian production, reduces pressure on the environment, and strengthens the energy security of communities.
CABINET OF MINISTERS, EXPORTS, FOREST, RESTRICTIONS, SCRAP METAL
French authorities have completely lifted the travel ban on Telegram founder Pavel Durov and canceled the requirement to regularly report to the police station in Nice, French media reported, citing a judicial source. Earlier in June 2025, the restrictions were eased with permission for short-term trips to Dubai, and now the measures have been completely lifted after “impeccable compliance with judicial control” for a year, Le Monde notes.
Durov was detained in France in August 2024 and placed under judicial control with a bail of €5 million, a ban on leaving the country, and an obligation to report regularly to the police. In the spring and summer of 2025, the court consistently allowed temporary trips to the UAE for up to 14 days. The investigation in France is ongoing and does not constitute an admission of guilt.
