Switzerland votes to automatically expel foreign residents convicted of certain crimes

Switzerland votes to automatically expel foreign residents convicted of certain crimes

From Eye on the World:

(AFP) Switzerland was slammed as the "black sheep" of Europe on Monday after voters endorsed a far-right push to automatically expel foreign residents convicted of certain crimes.

Austrian website news.at headlined an article saying: "Switzerland is now the black sheep -- majority for tougher rules against foreigers."

The headline was a reference to the signature poster campaign mounted by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP) in its push for the expulsion, depicting white sheep kicking a black sheep out of the Swiss flag.

GENEVA (AP) — Swiss voters on Sunday approved a plan to automatically deport foreigners who commit serious crimes or benefit fraud, in a significant victory for the nationalist party that pushed the proposal against the will of the government.

Some 52.9 percent of voters backed the proposal put forward by the nationalist Swiss People's Party. The plan was opposed by 47.1 percent of voters.

A government-backed counterproposal failed. It would have required case-by-case review by a judge before an individual was deported.

The government will now have to draft a law requiring automatic expulsion of foreigners found guilty of crimes such as murder, rape, drug dealing or benefit fraud.