The Council of States has rejected a popular initiative that would have let foreigners apply for citizenship after just five years, closing the parliamentary door on the biggest attempt in years to loosen one of Europe's strictest naturalisation regimes
Senators voted 34 to 9 against the 'For a modern nationality right' proposal, offering no counter-project, after the National Council rejected it earlier.
Current law requires at least ten years of residency, three of them in the five years before applying.
Backers argued the rules exclude more than a quarter of the population from political rights despite their taxes, work and integration.
As a popular initiative, it will now go to a nationwide vote.
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