Swiss Council of States defeats popular naturalisation reform initiative
The Council of States voted 34-9 to reject the popular initiative that would have cut the residency requirement for Swiss citizenship to five years.
On Thursday, the Swiss Council of States rejected the popular initiative to simplify naturalisation, voting 34 against 9 and offering no counter-proposal. The measure, presented by Action Quatre Quarts, would have reduced the minimum residency period from ten to five years and removed the need for a settlement permit. Under existing law, applicants must have lived in Switzerland for at least ten years, with three of the last five years holding a C permit.
Members of the centre-right bloc warned that the cut would allow people with unstable residency to obtain citizenship and would undermine integration criteria such as language proficiency. Left-leaning politicians highlighted the difficulty many long-term residents face due to varying cantonal rules, but their proposals were also rejected. Justice Minister Beat Jans said discussions continue with cantons and communes to harmonise practices without lowering the overall standards.
Why it matters
The vote keeps Switzerland's strict citizenship rules, affecting many long-term residents seeking political rights.
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