Swiss vote to expel convicted foreigners

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http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101129/wl_nm/us_swiss_politics_expulsion

Swiss vote to expel convicted foreigners

By Christian Hartmann and Anne Christian Hartmann And Anne

Sun Nov 28, 8:18 pm ET

ZURICH (Reuters) – A majority of Swiss voted to back the automatic expulsion of

foreigners convicted of serious crimes on Sunday, in the latest sign of growing

hostility to immigration in the country.

Thousands of opponents of the referendum result marched through Zurich and

smashed shop windows, a Reuters witness said. In the capital Berne, there were

about 500 protesters, some of whom threw snowballs and bottles at police in

front of parliament, officials said.

Fifty-three percent of voters backed a proposal to automatically deport

foreigners convicted of crimes including murder, rape or trafficking in drugs or

people, according to results carried by Swiss television.

" I don't regard this as a very good sign for our country, " said Christian

Levrat, head of the center-left Social Democrats who opposed the proposal.

Official figures show foreigners make up more than a fifth of Switzerland's

population of 7.7 million.

In the same referendum, 58.5 percent of voters rejected a proposal that would

have imposed a minimum cantonal (state) tax on the very rich.

Both results were confirmed in government statements.

The expulsion initiative was put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party

(SVP), which has mined increasing fear about immigration in recent years to

become the country's biggest political movement.

Last year the Swiss endorsed a ban on construction of new minarets, drawing

international condemnation.

" We want those (foreigners) who live in Switzerland to stick to the conventions

and rules of the game, " said SVP leader Toni Brunner. He said the vote was a

resounding " No " to abuses resulting from immigration.

Critics have said the SVP's proposal could contravene international

anti-discrimination treaties and the free movement of peoples under European

Union law. Switzerland is outside the EU, but has accepted the bloc's code

allowing EU citizens to take up residence without special permission.

Under current law, decisions to expel foreigners convicted of serious crimes are

made on a case-by-case basis.

A committee would draw up a draft law that minimised any conflict with

Switzerland's international obligations, the government said. The law would then

be voted on by parliament.

Turnout on Sunday was 53 percent, above the usual 40 percent in Swiss

referendums, Swiss television said.

(Writing by Bosley; editing by Dobbie)