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Sep 28th 2006 | GENEVA
From The Economist print editionA successful populist attack on Swiss asylum and immigration lawsSOME three years after he joined the government, Switzerland's right-wing justice minister, Christoph Blocher, has finally made a mark. Around 68% of voters endorsed his tightening of asylum and immigration laws in a referendum on September 24th. That reverses a narrow defeat for Mr Blocher and his Swiss People's Party (SVP) in a referendum in 2002, when just over 50% of voters rejected an initiative to clamp down on “abuse” of asylum.This time, the two other right-leaning parties in the government backed the new law. The main opponent was the fourth party, the Socialists, who decried the changes as “inhuman and inefficient”. Asylum-seekers in Switzerland now face faster repatriation and exclusion from welfare benefits unless they present an official identity document within 48 hours. Almost three-quarters of asylum-seekers do not have documents, says Mr Blocher, who suspects that many discard them to avoid proper investigation of their claims. Besides the asylum changes, the referendum approved an updated law on foreigners. European Union citizens have a free crack at the Swiss labour market, but others are largely excluded, unless they have essential skills that cannot be found nearer home. The new law also incorporates a demand for integration into Swiss society, a requirement once confined to citizenship applications. The existing immigration and asylum regime has shown little sign of being overwhelmed. The Swiss National Bank's president, Jean-Pierre Roth, says the economy enjoys near full employment—this week it was even rated the world's most competitive by the World Economic Forum. Switzerland once had one of the highest shares of asylum-seekers in Europe, but the inflow has declined sharply. In 2002 some 26,000 people sought asylum, says the UN High Commissioner for Refugees; last year the number was down to 10,000. The impact of the new law still depends on its implementation. The requirement for identity papers will not apply for “excusable motives”, such as a refusal by the home country to provide them, or if the applicant shows evidence of persecution at home. Opponents vow to ensure these safeguards are respected. Mr Blocher's party has blossomed in the past two decades by advocating isolation and portraying immigrants as a threat. Itis now taking aim at Switzerland's Muslims, fighting minarets, veils and other signs that “fundamental Christian and democratic values are imperilled”. This echoes the period before modern Switzerland (with its constitution protecting minorities and guaranteeing religious freedom) was formed. Lausanne once banned Roman Catholic churches with spires. The SVP has another goal: to block aid for eastern European members of the European Union in a referendum on November 26th. The foreign minister, Micheline Calmy-Rey, a Socialist, argues that the money will help these countries to prosper, making it less likely that migrants will knock at Switzerland's door. By tradition, Mr Blocher must this time stay silent, as most of the cabinet back the law.
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