The rightwing Swiss People’s Party has suggested that Switzerland should only open its doors to asylum seekers from European countries.
This content was published on
September 29, 2024 – 13:10
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The comment from party president Marcel Dettling, in an interview with the NZZ am Sonntag newspaper, was met with a mixed reception from other political parties.
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“We need to redefine the right to asylum,” said Dettling. “As a small country, we can’t take in the whole world.” Therefore, Switzerland should revert to its historic policy of “neighbourly help in Europe when people are in need”, as demonstrated during World War II.
In common with many countries, asylum is a contentious hot topic in Switzerland, where asylum applications rose 23% in 2023 and are expected to stay at the same level this year.
“Simply inhumane”
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23% more asylum applications in 2023
This content was published on
Feb 15, 2024
Swiss State Secretariat for Migration also expects around 30,000 asylum applications in 2024.
Read more: 23% more asylum applications in 2023
Parliament decided in the summer to send rejected Eritrean asylum seekers to Rwanda and is currently debating whether to prevent the families of temporarily admitted asylum seekers coming to Switzerland.
Reacting to Dettling’s comments, Andrea Caroni, a Senator with the centre-right Radical Party, said it makes most sense for asylum seekers to find protection in neighbouring countries rather than travel to different continents.
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“The Swiss constitution and the European Convention on Human Rights determine the boundaries [of Swiss asylum policy],” he added. “We must abide by them in our legislation.”
The leftwing Social Democrats, however, were scathing of the Swiss People’s Party recommendation to reject asylum to people living outside of Europe.
“That is simply inhumane. Their goal is to abolish the right of asylum for everyone,” said Social Democrat vice-president Mattea Meyer.
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What is your opinion of Switzerland’s asylum system?
This content was published on
Sep 28, 2023
Which political responses are needed in face of recent refugee arrivals? Join the discussion.
Read more: What is your opinion of Switzerland’s asylum system?
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Source link : https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/foreign-affairs/restrict-asylum-to-europeans-says-swiss-rightwing-party-chief/87640395
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Publish date : 2024-09-29 11:10:08
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