Sun, May 26th 2024
SVP Switzerland unanimously backs a new border protection initiative, including systematic border checks and a stringent annual asylum quota.
SVP Switzerland delegates unanimously decided to launch a border protection initiative at a special party conference in Basel on Saturday. The initiative text calls for systematic monitoring of Swiss national borders and thorough checks of people entering the country.
Systematic border controls are currently incompatible with the international Schengen Agreement, which only allows temporary controls in the event of an internal security threat. The initiative proposes “simplified procedures” for Swiss nationals, foreign nationals with a valid Swiss residence permit of at least one year, and cross-border commuters.
The “Stop asylum abuse” initiative seeks significant restrictions in the refugee system. It proposes that people entering Switzerland via a safe third country should be denied entry and asylum, ruling out temporary admission. Thomas Aeschi, SVP parliamentary group leader, emphasized that there would no longer be any “right to stay” for “young men from Africa, Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Turkey, and the Balkans.”
The initiative also suggests the Federal Council set an annual asylum quota of no more than 5000 people with a reason to flee. It would mandate registration for people from countries with high numbers of illegal residents before they enter Switzerland. Additionally, it demands that individuals without a residence permit or other entry authorization be refused entry.
The initiative requires the federal government, in cooperation with the cantons, to ensure that persons residing illegally leave Switzerland within 90 days. After this period, social security benefits and employment contracts should expire.
Party president Marcel Dettling declared, “We have lost control of our borders – we no longer know who is coming into our country.” Former customs director Christian Bock stated, “Border controls alone do not solve the problem of irregular migration and it won’t work without them.” He emphasized that border controls are part of the solution but further measures are needed.
©Keystone/SDA
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