Swiss lawmakers back stricter asylum measures

The Swiss House of Representatives voted in favor of stricter measures on asylum on Thursday, broadcaster Swissinfo reported.

The House adopted a motion put forward by the right-wing Swiss People’s Party parliamentary group, urging the government to oppose any proposed changes to EU rules on compensation for unemployed cross-border workers.

A separate motion called on the federal government to revoke the Swiss citizenship of dual nationals convicted of the most serious crimes and deport them.

The House also called on the government to change its practice in handling asylum applications from Afghan women, so they would no longer be automatically granted asylum but instead receive provisional admission status.

The majority further backed legislative changes to introduce targeted sanctions against countries of origin that refuse to cooperate.

The federal government had previously rejected all nine motions debated by the House. The Senate will now consider the motions approved by the lower house during an extraordinary session focused on “the EU and asylum.”