Switzerland citizens vote Yes to freedom of circulation to new EU states
{{date|September 25, 2005}}

The Swiss people have voted yes to the freedom of circulation to the new EU states. Overall 55.95% (1 457 355) voted yes and  44.05% (1 147 236) voted no. The turnout was 53.64%. All the cantons voted yes, apart from the six and a half [[w:Ticino|Ticino]], [[w:Appenzell Innerrhoden|Appenzell Innerrhoden]], [[w:Obwalden|Obwalden]], [[w:Nidwalden|Nidwalden]], [[w:Canton of Glarus|Glarus]], [[w:Canton of Schwyz|Schwyz]] and [[w:Canton of Uri|Uri]].

German-speaking and French-speaking parts of Switzerland had similar results; in previous national popular consultations, German-speaking cantons were regarded as less progressive than French-speaking ones.

The campaign was especially harsh, most governmental parties calling for acceptance, except the far-right wing [[:w:en:Swiss People's Party|Swiss People's Party]] (though Swiss People's Party's charismatic figure [[:w:en:Christoph Blocher|Christoph Blocher]] personally called for acceptance as well). Smaller formations, both from the extreme Right and extreme Left, attempted to smear fear of massive immigration and unemployement.

Switzerland has ratified bilateral agreements with the members of the European Union in March 2004, but the new members ([[:w:en:Cyprus|Cyprus]], [[:w:en:Czech Republic|Czech Republic]], [[:w:en:Estonia|Estonia]], [[:w:en:Hungary|Hungary]], [[:w:en:Latvia|Latvia]], [[:w:en:Lithuania|Lithuania]], [[:w:en:Malta|Malta]], [[:w:en:Poland|Poland]], [[:w:en:Slovakia|Slovakia]] and [[:w:en:Slovenia|Slovenia]]) were not included in the deal.

The results have been greeted by most of the political establishment.

=== Results ===

{| border="2" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; background: #f9f9f9; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;"
!Vote
!Percentage of Votes
!Number of votes
|-
|Yes
|55.95%
|1 457 355 
|-
|No
|44.05%
|1 147 236 
|}

[[Image:Swiss cantons votation 25 09 2005.PNG|centre]]

== Sources ==
*{{source|url=http://www.swissinfo.org/sen/swissinfo.html?siteSect=106&sid=6113094&cKey=1127659518000
|title=Swiss "yes" to EU accord beats expectations 
|author=
|pub=Swissinfo
|date=September 25, 2005}}

*{{source|url=http://abstimmung.swissinfogeo.org/20050925/kant.htm?0=english&1=1
|title=Results from Swissinfo-geo 
|author=
|pub=Swissinfo
|date=September 25, 2005}}

{{Publish}}

{{archive}}
[[Category:Europe]]
[[Category:Switzerland]]
[[Category:Politics and conflicts]]
[[Category:European Union]]

[[es:Suiza aprueba la libre circulación de ciudadanos de la Unión Europea]]
[[ja:スイス国民投票、EU新加盟国に対しても人の流れを自由化]]
[[pl:Szwajcarskie "tak" dla swobodnego napływu siły roboczej z nowych krajów UE]]
The Swiss people have voted yes to the freedom of circulation to the new EU states. Overall 55.95% (1 457 355) voted yes and  44.05% (1 147 236) voted no. The turnout was 53.64%. All the cantons voted yes, apart from the six and a half Ticino, Appenzell Innerrhoden, Obwalden, Nidwalden, Glarus, Schwyz and Uri.

German-speaking and French-speaking parts of Switzerland had similar results; in previous national popular consultations, German-speaking cantons were regarded as less progressive than French-speaking ones.

The campaign was especially harsh, most governmental parties calling for acceptance, except the far-right wing Swiss People's Party (though Swiss People's Party's charismatic figure Christoph Blocher personally called for acceptance as well). Smaller formations, both from the extreme Right and extreme Left, attempted to smear fear of massive immigration and unemployement.

Switzerland has ratified bilateral agreements with the members of the European Union in March 2004, but the new members (Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia) were not included in the deal.

The results have been greeted by most of the political establishment.


Vote

Percentage of Votes

Number of votes

Yes

55.95%

1 457 355 

No

44.05%

1 147 236 

centre

*
Europe Switzerland Politics and conflicts European Union