Swiss voters approve harsher deportation plan

[Barcelona]

Source: Deutsche Welle

Swiss voters have approved a far-right initiative to automatically expel foreign residents convicted of serious crimes, according to poll results.

Swiss national broadcaster SF1 said 52.9 percent of voters backed the initiative in Sunday's referendum, a plan proposed by the nationalist Swiss People's Party (SVP).

A counter-proposal put forth by the Swiss government, which would make expulsion dependent on the length of a prison term rather on an arbitrary list of offenses, appears to have been rejected by most voters, according to preliminary results. Currently, decisions to expel foreigners convicted of serious crimes are made on a case-by-case basis.

Read more: http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6275314,00.html

[Imajika]

1. The Swiss also voted to ban Minarets

The anti-immigrant feelings are growing throughout much of Europe.

[muriel_volestrangler]

2. This doesn't sound unreasonable to me

The initiative, which would apply to foreigners convicted of crimes like murder, rape or trafficking in drugs or people, has been criticized by human rights groups and legal experts, who said it could disregard international anti-discrimination treaties and the free movement of peoples under European Union law.

Foreigners convicted of serious crimes like that are, I think, fair game for deportation.

[Imajika]

3. Your right...

..it doesn't sound that unreasonable on the surface. It's just that it was a far right initiative which, more than anything, is designed to stoke anti-immigrant feelings.

[muriel_volestrangler]

7. Mind you, the BBC report says it goes down to benefit fraud

Swiss voters have accepted a referendum proposal for the automatic expulsion of non-Swiss citizens for certain crimes, an exit poll suggests.

Some 53% agreed that those convicted of crimes ranging from murder to benefit fraud should be deported, the poll for state broadcaster SF1 said.
...
But opponents say the measures go too far. The children of immigrants do not automatically get Swiss citizenship, so the rule would mean sending some people who were born and brought up in Switzerland to countries they know nothing of.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11857438

[dipsydoodle]

6. Not at all unreasonable

If anything European Union Law needs changing to cover such acts by immigrants who subsequently work the system to prevent their own deportation.

Such issues bring PC Sharon Beshenivsky to mind. What's the betting he'll try to avoid deportation when he's out.

[Ginto]

16. What if they have children? I guess they're just collateral damage. nt

[Flatulo]

4. Good for them.. nt

[emilyg]

5. Good.

[FreakinDJ]

8. Imagine that - deported for committing serious crimes

So harsh ... :sarcasm:

[pampango]

9. "Switzerland’s ultra-conservative People’s party is hoping for a resounding referendum victory".

They got it.

http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/fc034d56-f8c3-11df-b550-00144feab49a.html#axzz16brGp0Tr

Switzerland’s ultra-conservative People’s party is hoping for a resounding referendum victory on Sunday that will again catapult the small alpine state to the forefront of European debate on sensitive issues such as immigration and racism.

Voters will be asked to support the mandatory deportation of foreigners convicted of serious crimes. While the list includes offences such as rape and burglary, it also embraces non-violent actions, including drug dealing and social security abuse.

The vote reflects misgivings in much of Europe, where far-right parties have gained ground amid rising concerns about immigration and law and order against the background of slowing economies and rising unemployment.

Opponents warn acceptance of the SVP motion will cause difficulties for Switzerland, already denounced by international human rights movements after the minaret vote. Critics say approval will create legal conflicts with treaties with the EU and commitments under international human rights law.

[alp227]

10. Swiss voters 'back expulsion of foreign criminals'

Source: BBC News

Swiss voters have accepted a referendum proposal for the automatic expulsion of non-Swiss citizens for certain crimes, an exit poll suggests.

Some 53% agreed that those convicted of crimes ranging from murder to benefit fraud should be deported, the poll for state broadcaster SF1 said.

The Swiss People's Party, which drew up the measure, said immigrants "should respect the rules of this country".

But opponents said it was another example of increasing xenophobia.

Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-11857438

---

So THIS poster isn't racist? (In English: "Rapist and soon Swiss?")



And no, convicts don't just get deported for crimes (if you remember the case of Jose Lopez Madrigal, who was deported nine times from the US!); instead they "would serve their sentence in Switzerland first and then be deported without appeal."

[dipsydoodle]

11. Duplicate LBN post

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x4632209

Aside from which yes immigrants "should respect the rules of the country" to which they emigrated.

[davidinalameda]

12. Ivan sounds like an East European name

not sure if using it is racist or not

[Honeycombe8]

14. Well, duh. Who would want people coming into their country who murder people...

to stay?

[Ginto]

17. And if the murderers have children?

Do they get to stay or are they shipped off to a country they have never known?

[Honeycombe8]

24. You tell me. If a neighbor comes into your home with his kids, and he kills one of

your other neighbors who is visiting you...do you let the killer stay, with his children? Or do you ask the killer to leave, but leave his children, and you'll raise them and pay for their education? Or do you ask them all to leave, and notify the authorities that the killer has his children with him or whatever? Your house. Your decision.

[Ginto]

25. Don't have enough straw. nt

[LanternWaste]

26. Certainly not the Amerindians...

Certainly not the Amerindians...

[pampango]

15. Amnesty International said the approval of the plan marked a "dark day for human rights in

Switzerland.

http://english.aljazeera.net//news/europe/2010/11/20101128214710909464.html

Switzerland has endorsed a far-right push to automatically expel foreign residents convicted of certain crimes, to the dismay of critics who described it as a "dark day for human rights".

The approval of the initiative in a referendum was an expression of insecurity, Simonetta Sommaruga, the country's justice minister said, stressing the government would examine how to implement the new rule without violating its international obligations.

As with their campaign against minarets, the far-right party launched an aggressive push for the expulsion of foreign criminals, saying those guilty of certain crimes should be stripped of their right to remain in the country.

Its signature poster illustrates a white sheep kicking a black sheep out of the Swiss flag.

[Mass]

19. delete - wrong place

[3waygeek]

13. Does that deportation plan include their money?

I'm guessing not.

[pampango]

18. "The outcome of the Swiss vote was welcomed by right-wing parties across Europe, with some calling

for similar votes to be held in their countries."

http://www.euractiv.com/en/foreign-affairs/eu-cautious-over-swiss-vote-expel-foreign-criminals-news-500108

(European) Commission President José Manuel Barroso said, "There is today in Europe a push of populism and of extremes which is very serious and worries me. I see societies with a long tradition of openness and democracy mounting a nationalist, chauvinistic, xenophobic push, sometimes of very, very aggressive populism," said Barroso, speaking in French.

The proposal, put forward by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP), is seen as the latest sign of increasing hostility towards immigrants in the Alpine nation.

The same party drummed up support last year for a ban on building of minarets in the country, drawing widespread condemnation. It also notoriously displayed a picture of a group of white sheep kicking a black sheep off the Swiss flag during the 2007 federal elections.

As a member of the Schengen area, Switzerland is obliged to allow citizens of other Schengen members to live, work and study in the country. Switzerland could be accused of infringing the free movement of persons principle, a fundamental right guaranteed to EU citizens. The new legislation could also be considered to be in breach the UN Convention Against Torture, signed by Switzerland, which requires signatories to refrain from deporting people to countries that practice torture. As nearly half of Switzerland's 1.6 million residents come from non-European countries, there is a risk that the country could deport migrants to their countries of origin, where torture may occur.

[bikebloke]

20. The Swiss have always been xenophobic.

They have an executive council, which friends called the Seven Reagans (this was back in the 80's). We were on the tram once, and people around us were talking about a couple Arabs on board, wondering aloud about their visas.

[Blue_Tires]

21. So that means the Swiss are going to kick out the billionaire tax cheats?

:think:

[AngryAmish]

22. Will they now deport the rapist Roman Polanski?

[Puzzledtraveller]

23. Roman Polanksi is a therapist?!

:rofl: