Changes

The SVP is a national conservative party.<ref name="Nordsieck">Nordsieck, Wolfram (2015). [http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/switzerland.html Switzerland]. ''Parties and Elections in Europe''. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> The SVP supports [[small government]], the [[free market]], Swiss [[sovereignty]], and it opposes the encroachment of Swiss [[independence]], mass [[immigration]], [[Same-sex "marriage"|homosexual "marriage"]], and the [[welfare state]].<ref name="Nordsieck"/><ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/yes-or-no-_swiss-political-parties-reveal-their-colours/41640412 Swiss political parties reveal their colours]. ''Swissinfo''. September 11, 2015. Retrieved Ocotber 12, 2016.</ref>

The SVP is a national conservative party.<ref name="Nordsieck">Nordsieck, Wolfram (2015). [http://www.parties-and-elections.eu/switzerland.html Switzerland]. ''Parties and Elections in Europe''. Retrieved October 12, 2016.</ref> The SVP supports [[small government]], the [[free market]], Swiss [[sovereignty]], and it opposes the encroachment of Swiss [[independence]], mass [[immigration]], [[Same-sex "marriage"|homosexual "marriage"]], and the [[welfare state]].<ref name="Nordsieck"/><ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/yes-or-no-_swiss-political-parties-reveal-their-colours/41640412 Swiss political parties reveal their colours]. ''Swissinfo''. September 11, 2015. Retrieved Ocotber 12, 2016.</ref>

Successful referendums that the SVP has sponsored include a 2009 initiative to ban the construction of any new minarets,<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/29/switzerland.minaret.referendum/index.html?iref=24hours Swiss vote to ban minaret construction]. ''CNN''. November 29, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> a 2010 initiative to expel foreigners who commit crimes,<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/2010-initiative_foreign-criminal-expulsion-law-set-for-october/42001678 Foreign criminal expulsion law set for October]. ''Swissinfo''. March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> and a 2014 initiative to limit immigration by instituting quotas on it.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/swiss-voters-narrowly-back-referendum-curbing-immigration/a-17420367 Swiss voters narrowly back referendum curbing immigration]. ''Deutsche Welle''. February 9, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> It must be noted, however, that when implementing the 2010<ref>Raaflaub, Christian (January 6, 2016). [http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/-initiative_literal-implementation-causes-controversy/41863564 Deportation initiative back before voters]. ''Swissinfo''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> and 2014<ref>[http://www.thelocal.ch/20161216/svp-bern-capitulates-with-final-immigration-vote It's official: Switzerland defies referendum and won't impose EU immigration controls]. ''The Local''. December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> referendums, the government did not institute a strict implementation but diverged from the referendum and the intentions of the SVP.

Successful referendums that the SVP has sponsored include a 2009 initiative to ban the construction of any new minarets,<ref>[http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/11/29/switzerland.minaret.referendum/index.html?iref=24hours Swiss vote to ban minaret construction]. ''CNN''. November 29, 2009. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> a 2010 initiative to expel foreigners who commit crimes,<ref>[http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/2010-initiative_foreign-criminal-expulsion-law-set-for-october/42001678 Foreign criminal expulsion law set for October]. ''Swissinfo''. March 4, 2016. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> and a 2014 initiative to limit immigration by instituting quotas on it.<ref>[http://www.dw.com/en/swiss-voters-narrowly-back-referendum-curbing-immigration/a-17420367 Swiss voters narrowly back referendum curbing immigration]. ''Deutsche Welle''. February 9, 2014. Retrieved October 14, 2016.</ref> It must be noted, however, that when implementing the 2010<ref>Raaflaub, Christian (January 6, 2016). [http://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/-initiative_literal-implementation-causes-controversy/41863564 Deportation initiative back before voters]. ''Swissinfo''. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> and 2014<ref>[http://www.thelocal.ch/20161216/svp-bern-capitulates-with-final-immigration-vote It's official: Switzerland defies referendum and won't impose EU immigration controls]. ''The Local''. December 16, 2016. Retrieved December 17, 2016.</ref> referendums, the Swiss government did not institute a strict implementation but diverged from the referendum and the intentions of the SVP.

The SVP successfully opposed the 1992 referendum proposing EEA membership for Switzerland, despite the fact that the vast majority of parties supported membership.<ref name="Trampusch"/>

The SVP successfully opposed the 1992 referendum proposing EEA membership for Switzerland, despite the fact that the vast majority of parties supported membership.<ref name="Trampusch"/>