Switzerland's largest political party announced on Tuesday (January 31) it wants asylum procedures moved abroad.

"Switzerland is working towards its own disappearance," Marco Chiesa, the president of the right-wing populist Swiss People's Party, said during a press conference in the capital Bern. 

"This is why we must finally put a stop to this immigration which is disproportionate and harmful to our country. 

"The problem is that not only are too many immigrants coming to Switzerland, the right ones are not coming," he added.

How does the SVP want to handle asylum procedures?

The SVP wants asylum procedures to be relocated to centers outside Switzerland, similar to Britain's planned deal with Rwanda.

"As part of a new aid and protection policy, Switzerland could financially and logistically take part in running reception and protection centres in crisis regions," the SVP declared in a position paper, citing UN refugee camps as an example.

To avert "illegal entries," the SVP – eyeing the Australian asylum model – wants to establish transit zones, particularly at airports, in which asylum seekers can submit their applications.

"Asylum seekers would therefore not be on Swiss territory and could be sent back directly to the country from which they wanted to enter Switzerland, if the decision is negative," the position paper said.

The party also said it wants closer collaboration with countries like Austria, Britain and Denmark on migration issues. 

In 2022, landlocked Switzerland received some 24,500 asylum applications – almost two-thirds more than in 2021. Most applicants came from Afghanistan and Turkey. In addition, since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last February, 75,000 Ukrainians have received special temporary protection in Switzerland.

The Swiss government expects the number of people seeking asylum in the country this year to be between 24,000 and 40,000 (not including Ukrainians).

The alpine nation is set to hold federal elections in October, 2023.

With AFP