Swiss voters have decisively rejected a call for tighter immigration and an end to freedom of movement with the EU in a vote this past weekend.

The referendum – launched by the right-wing Swiss People's Party (SVP) – saw 61.7 percent of voters choose to maintain the freedom of movement that the country has with the EU.

This was despite SVP claims that it has resulted in overpopulation, environment and infrastructure strain and manipulation of the Swiss social security system.

People born overseas account for about a quarter of Switzerland’s population of 8.6 million.

Ending freedom of movement ...