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Under the defeated hunting proposal, wolves could have been killed if they were deemed to have lost their fear of humans. /Denis Balibouse/Reuters
Swiss mountain wolves can breathe a bit easier after voters in Switzerland rejected a proposal aimed at making it easier to shoot them. The wolves have been blamed for killing livestock, but a narrow vote saw 51.92 percent vote against and 48.08 percent in favour.
The voters also rejected a proposal by the country's ruling nationalist party to limit the number of EU citizens who can live in the country.
The Swiss People's Party (SVP) wanted to introduce a measure to give preferential access to jobs, social protection and benefits to people from Switzerland over those from the 27-nation bloc that surrounds it.
An overwhelming 61.71 percent of voters rejected the proposal, while 31.29 percent voted in favour.
EU citizens make up a quarter of the Swiss population, while there are 450,000 Swiss citizens living in the EU, and the SVP had suggested more arrivals from the EU would create a rise in house prices and overcrowded transport and schools.
Results showed that the majority of people living in the country's biggest cities, where most of the country's EU citizens live, rejected the proposal, while those in smaller towns and villages were in favour of restrictions.
The EU is Switzerland's biggest trading partner, meaning had the measure been approved, it would have further strained the country's ties to the bloc, of which it isn't a member. There were also fears reciprocal rulings could've been applied by EU nations.
Back in 2014, a similar immigration measure was approved only for lawmakers to refuse to fully implement the law in fear of economic repercussions.
The Swiss population did approve a further proposal that has sparked much debate in the traditionally neutral country - to bolster their military might by purchasing new combat aircraft. A closely-fought vote saw 50.15 percent (1,604,899) people vote in favour and 49.85 percent (1,595,156) against.
A new law on allowances for loss of earnings for parents during time off work looking after newborn children was also given the green light by 60.32 percent of voters, while 39.68 voted against.
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