Voters in Switzerland have rejected a proposal to limit the country’s population to 10 million.

Results showed nearly 55% of participants voted against and 45% voted for, with a turnout of 60% of the population.

The proposal came from the right-wing Swiss People’s Party, which has long campaigned on an anti-immigration platform.

The divisive vote risked putting the country’s free movement agreement with the European Union in jeopardy and was opposed by the government, Swiss businesses, and all the other major parties.

Welcoming the no vote, Switzerland’s justice minister Beat Jans said it was “a sign of stability, openness and reliability”.

Switzerland’s population has grown rapidly since 2002, when it stood at 7.3 million. Now it is 9.1 million, 27% of whom are not Swiss citizens.

However, the People Party’s argument that capping the population would reduce pressure on transport, housing and the environment seem not to have persuaded enough voters.

Although the Swiss People’s Party insisted the population cap was designed to protect Switzerland’s public services and its environment, it has a long history of campaigning on an anti-immigrant platform, frequently blaming asylum seekers and minorities for societal problems.