World Immigration News

(The Local Switzerland)Prominent backer of Swiss anti-immigration plan under spotlight for hiring EU workers

Release Date: 2026-05-20
Media: The Local Switzerland
Summary: The article highlights criticism against Magdalena Martullo-Blocher, vice-president of Switzerland’s far-right Swiss People’s Party (SVP), for promoting anti-immigration policies while her own company relies on foreign workers from the European Union.

The SVP’s “No to 10 million” initiative seeks to limit immigration from EU and EFTA countries in order to slow Switzerland’s population growth and protect the country’s economy and society. Martullo-Blocher has publicly supported stricter immigration controls as part of the campaign.

However, her company, EMS Chemie, actively recruits employees from the EU and benefits from Switzerland’s free movement of people agreement with Europe. Critics argue that this contradicts the SVP’s anti-immigration stance and undermines her credibility as a spokesperson for the initiative. Opposition politicians have suggested this is why she has not played a major public role in the campaign.
Tags: Switzerland