Swiss Voters Turn Back on EU Agreement

This week 50.3% of Swiss voters supported a referendum to reintroduce strict immigration requirements from European Union nations. The "yes" vote essentially repeals an agreement between Switzerland and the European Union allowing greater movement between European nations. Switzerland is not part of the EU but has recently aligned its policies with the organization. The European Commission has responded saying that the vote "goes against the principle of free movement of persons between the EU and Switzerland."

An analysis of the vote shows divisions between the French, Italian and German speakers in Switzerland. A division between to three groups has long been present in Swiss politics. The French speakers and many German speakers voted against the referendum, while the Italian speakers and the remainder of the German speakers voted for the referendum.