Twitter round-up: Swiss 'xenophobia prevails'
Switzerland’s referendum results have triggered a wave of international reactions – Eurosceptics praised the Swiss for standing up to Brussels, while the head of a human rights group lashed out at perceived xenophobia. We’ve scoured Twitter for more outrage and insights.
As news of the vote to curb immigration from the EU spread far and wide, commentators lined up to decry what many viewed as a show of harmful Swiss insularity. Kenneth Roth, the head of Human Rights Watch, didn’t hold back.
So Switzerland wants to be an international banking & UN center but not welcome immigrants. Xenophobia prevails. http://t.co/rDhVgoZSoT
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) February 10, 2014
Helpfully, some tweeters deployed maps and graphs to tease out some of the more fascinating details.
Relationship between share of migrants per canton and share of yes to anti-immigration initiative #chvote #swissvote pic.twitter.com/pddHDETvPY
— Alexandre Afonso (@alexandreafonso) February 9, 2014
Huge divide between French & German #Switzerland with francophone cantons unanimously rejecting migration cap #CHvote pic.twitter.com/rGknA9Mtp9
— Giles Goodall (@GoodallGiles) February 9, 2014
Map: urban regions in German-speaking CH against immigration initiative, rural regions in favor pic.twitter.com/eoOwJeP5Wh via @claudelongchamp
— Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) February 10, 2014
Martin Schulz, President of the European parliament, urged restraint.
Treaties must be abided. #Switzerland enjoys advantages of international market, freedom of movement crucial. Need calm rational reactions.
— Martin Schulz (@MartinSchulz) February 9, 2014
Nein Quarterly’s editor took a blunter approach.
Welcome to Switzerland. Sorry, we're closed.
— Nein. (@NeinQuarterly) February 9, 2014
Travel writer Diccon Bewes asked one of the more pertinent questions.
@iSkandinavien @carnetdescapade Switzerland has 4% unemployment but 25% of the workforce is foreign. Who would fill those jobs?
— Diccon Bewes (@dicconb) February 10, 2014
British Conservative MP Mark Pritchard sided with the victors.
Well done Switzerland. Now expect bullying, intimidation, and threats from Brussels. But hold your ground. You choose your nation's destiny
— Mark Pritchard (@MPritchardMP) February 10, 2014
And French National Front leader Marine Le Pen was predictably thrilled, as she praised Swiss moves towards immigration control as a “national priority”.
Référendum Suisse : Maîtrise de l'immigration et priorité nationale: le programme du Front ! MLP http://t.co/j0WNmlfxDy
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) February 10, 2014
But European Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde hinted at the acrimony ahead.
#CHvote goes against the principle of free movement of persons between the EU & Switzerland. @EU_Commission decl.: http://t.co/e16brrtbIZ
— Pia Ahrenkilde (@ECspokesPia) February 9, 2014
One Swiss journalist summed up the feelings of many in the No camp when he claimed to have spotted a new item for sale in Ikea’s Swiss stores.
Neu auch bei IKEA Schweiz. RT @arabiaenquirer pic.twitter.com/KAruu7ZF9j
— Andreas Schwald (@schwalet) February 10, 2014
This is what the Swiss national football team would look like if "cleansed of mass immigration". Die masseneinwanderungsbereinigte Schweizer Fussballnationalmannschaft! #MEI #abst14 /cc: @srfsport @srfnews pic.twitter.com/emEvYtOhYy
— SRF 3 (@srf3) February 10, 2014
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As news of the vote to curb immigration from the EU spread far and wide, commentators lined up to decry what many viewed as a show of harmful Swiss insularity. Kenneth Roth, the head of Human Rights Watch, didn’t hold back.
So Switzerland wants to be an international banking & UN center but not welcome immigrants. Xenophobia prevails. http://t.co/rDhVgoZSoT
— Kenneth Roth (@KenRoth) February 10, 2014 Helpfully, some tweeters deployed maps and graphs to tease out some of the more fascinating details.
Relationship between share of migrants per canton and share of yes to anti-immigration initiative #chvote #swissvote pic.twitter.com/pddHDETvPY
— Alexandre Afonso (@alexandreafonso) February 9, 2014 Huge divide between French & German #Switzerland with francophone cantons unanimously rejecting migration cap #CHvote pic.twitter.com/rGknA9Mtp9
— Giles Goodall (@GoodallGiles) February 9, 2014 Map: urban regions in German-speaking CH against immigration initiative, rural regions in favor pic.twitter.com/eoOwJeP5Wh via @claudelongchamp
— Mathieu von Rohr (@mathieuvonrohr) February 10, 2014 Martin Schulz, President of the European parliament, urged restraint.
Treaties must be abided. #Switzerland enjoys advantages of international market, freedom of movement crucial. Need calm rational reactions.
— Martin Schulz (@MartinSchulz) February 9, 2014 Nein Quarterly’s editor took a blunter approach.
Welcome to Switzerland. Sorry, we're closed.
— Nein. (@NeinQuarterly) February 9, 2014 Travel writer Diccon Bewes asked one of the more pertinent questions.
@iSkandinavien @carnetdescapade Switzerland has 4% unemployment but 25% of the workforce is foreign. Who would fill those jobs?
— Diccon Bewes (@dicconb) February 10, 2014 British Conservative MP Mark Pritchard sided with the victors.
Well done Switzerland. Now expect bullying, intimidation, and threats from Brussels. But hold your ground. You choose your nation's destiny
— Mark Pritchard (@MPritchardMP) February 10, 2014 And French National Front leader Marine Le Pen was predictably thrilled, as she praised Swiss moves towards immigration control as a “national priority”.
Référendum Suisse : Maîtrise de l'immigration et priorité nationale: le programme du Front ! MLP http://t.co/j0WNmlfxDy
— Marine Le Pen (@MLP_officiel) February 10, 2014 But European Commission spokeswoman Pia Ahrenkilde hinted at the acrimony ahead.
#CHvote goes against the principle of free movement of persons between the EU & Switzerland. @EU_Commission decl.: http://t.co/e16brrtbIZ
— Pia Ahrenkilde (@ECspokesPia) February 9, 2014 One Swiss journalist summed up the feelings of many in the No camp when he claimed to have spotted a new item for sale in Ikea’s Swiss stores.
Neu auch bei IKEA Schweiz. RT @arabiaenquirer pic.twitter.com/KAruu7ZF9j
— Andreas Schwald (@schwalet) February 10, 2014 This is what the Swiss national football team would look like if "cleansed of mass immigration". Die masseneinwanderungsbereinigte Schweizer Fussballnationalmannschaft! #MEI #abst14 /cc: @srfsport @srfnews pic.twitter.com/emEvYtOhYy
— SRF 3 (@srf3) February 10, 2014
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