Swiss voters reject easing of citizenship rules

Swiss voters yesterday rejected proposals to make it easier for the children and grandchildren of immigrants to get Swiss passports, marking a further victory for Switzerland's right-wing.

Voters rejected two motions, one to make it easier for young second-generation immigrants to get Swiss citizenship and another to grant passports automatically to third-generation immigrants born in Switzerland.

Neither proposal won support from the required majority of Switzerland's 26 cantons (states). They were rejected by 57 per cent and 52 per cent of the electorate respectively.

The anti-immigrant Swiss People's Party (SVP), which surged to the top of the polls in last October's general election, campaigned hard against the plan, playing on fears among rural voters that the proposals could lead to an influx of foreigners.