Zurich voters reject speedier education grants for rejected asylum seekers

Voters in canton Zurich have rejected the idea to scrap a five-year waiting period for “provisionally admitted foreigners” before they can apply for education grants. Just over 54% of voters rejected the idea, which was put forward by the cantonal parliament in February. Parliamentarians said the waiting period was not necessary since 90% of such cases (“provisionally admitted foreigners” are rejected asylum seekers who are unable to return to their home country for various reasons) stay in Switzerland anyway. It would therefore make sense to train them quickly, the parliament said. The right-wing Swiss People’s Party disagreed and launched a referendum to maintain the waiting period. It argued that Zurich should not be made even more attractive for asylum seekers: foreigners with “F” status are obliged to leave the country and should only be allowed to stay until this was possible, they said. + Get the most important news from Switzerland in your inbox The People’s Party did not ...