Swiss Parliament Rejects Proposal to Ease Citizenship Rules.

Lawmakers in Switzerland have rejected a proposal to ease citizenship requirements for non-EU residents.

During a special parliamentary session held on Thursday, members of the National Council voted against a plan that aimed to reduce the required residency period for applicants from non-European Union countries from 10 years to 5 years.

The proposal was supported by Action Vierviertel, which argued that Switzerland’s naturalisation process remains significantly longer than in many other countries. The group stated that long-term foreign residents face unnecessary barriers when applying for Swiss citizenship.

However, the majority of lawmakers defended the current rules. They argued that Swiss citizenship should not be granted quickly but should reflect successful long-term integration into society.

Parliament members emphasized that immigrants from outside the EU often require additional time to fully integrate socially, culturally, and linguistically. As a result, they said the current 10-year residency requirement remains appropriate.

With the proposal rejected, Switzerland will continue enforcing its existing citizenship law, while debates over immigration policy and integration are expected to remain politically significant.