Swiss reject proposal to expel foreign criminals

Swiss voters yesterday rejected a proposal to automatically deport foreign criminals for even minor offences, according to referendum results showing a majority of cantons opposed.

The poll came at a time when many European countries are hardening their attitudes to migrants after more than a million arrived on the continent's shores last year.

Under Swiss law voters can change a law by popular ballot. To be passed it must be approved by a majority of cantons as well as a majority of electors.

According to the latest results Sunday evening, the proposal was rejected by a majority of cantons, while the gfs.bern polling institute forecast that 59 percent of voters opposed it.

The definitive voter result was expected later in the evening.

In a referendum six years ago, more than half of Swiss voters backed strengthening rules to automatically expel foreign nationals convicted of violent or sexual crimes.

The populist right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) -- which has accused parliament of dragging its feet on writing the text into law and watering it down when it did so last March -- proposed tougher rules which were put to the people in Sunday's referendum.

Known for its virulent campaigns against immigration, the European Union and Islam, the SVP had called for "real deportation of criminal foreigners".