Why do 40% of Swiss citizens with Balkan roots support the SVP? A survey by 20 Minuten reveals that many vote for the party not “despite” its immigration policies, but precisely because of them.
Recent data from SRG’s election barometer ahead of the next federal elections reveal a striking development: around 40% of Swiss voters with Balkan roots support the SVP. This means support for the party is proportionally higher in this group than among voters without a migration background, where it stands at approximately 31%.
This finding has prompted Swiss media outlets, including Aargauer Zeitung and 20 Minuten, to investigate the motivations behind this trend. 20 Minuten asked a number of Swiss citizens with Balkan roots whether they intended to vote for the SVP and, if so, why.
The newspaper reminded respondents that 15 years ago, in 2011, the party distributed its notorious poster targeting Kosovars. The poster led to members of the SVP’s national leadership being convicted of racism, according to albinfo.
A considerable number of respondents said they would vote for the party and explained their reasons. However, it is important to note that the category of voters with Balkan roots includes not only Albanians, who might be expected to be more sensitive to the discriminatory poster.
Given the animosities between Balkan communities that also persist in Switzerland, it is possible that the poster’s discriminatory message against Albanians and Kosovars has actually encouraged some people from other Balkan communities to sympathise with the SVP, albinfo.ch writes. Indeed, most of the respondents featured in the article are of Serbian or Slavic origin more broadly. Nevertheless, this does not rule out the possibility that some Swiss citizens of Albanian origin who are eligible to vote also support the SVP.
Balkan voters support the SVP not “despite” its immigration policies, but precisely because of them
Why do 40% of Swiss citizens with Balkan roots support the SVP? A survey by 20 Minuten suggests that many vote for the party not despite its immigration policies, but because of them.
The SVP is expected to achieve a record result in the next elections. The latest SRG election barometer shows that support for the party is higher among Swiss citizens of Balkan origin than in any other group. Forty percent intend to vote for the right-wing party next autumn.
This is striking: in 2011, the SVP was still campaigning with posters declaring, “Kosovars are stabbing Swiss people.”
Why is the SVP so popular among Swiss citizens with Balkan roots? 20 Minuten sought answers from Switzerland’s Balkan communities.
Milka G. is not surprised that many Swiss citizens with Balkan roots intend to vote for the SVP.
“We know what it means when a country loses its stability, social cohesion and future. And we do not want our new homeland to suffer the same fate.”
Her family comes from Montenegro. She says she is well integrated and grew up with values such as respect, courtesy, hard work and gratitude. In her view, these values are increasingly losing their importance.
“We are not against people seeking protection,” the 30-year-old emphasises. However, protection comes with responsibilities and a willingness to integrate. This is why she votes for the SVP.
“Not out of hatred for others, but out of love for our homeland, gratitude and concern for the future.”
D. P. wishes to remain anonymous to avoid offending anyone. The Swiss citizen of Croatian origin agrees with the SVP on many issues but says he would take an even tougher and more consistent stance on deportations.
“There are people who integrate and contribute, and there are those who do not want to integrate—or who become criminals.” The latter, he says, burden society and cast a negative light on well-integrated foreigners.
Immigration policy and security drive SVP support among a Swiss citizen of Kosovar origin
For Ardeshir Brahaj, a Swiss citizen of Kosovar origin, migration and security are also decisive factors in his support for the SVP.
The 37-year-old does not believe that people with a migration background should be expected to adhere to a particular political orientation. His Kosovar roots and his connection to Switzerland are not contradictory, he says.
“I value the opportunities and prospects this country offers me.”
Marco Marosevic, 44, clearly remembers the poster and criticises it.
“That goes too far.”
He says this is no longer about substantive politics but about polarisation. Nevertheless, he has voted for the SVP or would vote in line with its positions.
“The issue is straightforward: if the SVP has good arguments, I support them; if they are nonsense, I do not.”
R. Tanasic was not familiar with the 2011 poster.
“I was too young to think about it,” says the 22-year-old of Bosnian origin.
He votes for the SVP because he wants to “protect the country from the negative consequences of illegal migration and criminal refugees.” He insists that this is not about exclusion, but about order, security and respect.
But not all people of Balkan origin vote for the SVP
Tajana Koller does not vote for the SVP. Nevertheless, she knows many people with Balkan roots who would vote for the party.
She believes the SVP is popular because of its nationalist positions.
She also has a theory as to why. Many people, she says, are taught from an early age that their origins, culture and people come first.
The 36-year-old sees a connection between this upbringing and the SVP’s appeal.
“Those who grew up this way may identify particularly well with a political movement that seeks to protect their national identity, restrict immigration and distance itself from foreigners.”
