SWITZERLAND has endorsed a far-right push to automatically expel foreign residents convicted of certain crimes, a move described by critics as a ''dark day for human rights''.

About 52.9 per cent of those who voted in the referendum were in favour, while 47.1 per cent were against, with the country's German-speaking majority largely backing the proposal. Only six out of 26 cantons rejected it.

It came exactly a year after Switzerland agreed to ban the construction of minarets, another proposal backed by the far-right Swiss People's Party (SVP). As with its drive against minarets, the SVP launched an aggressive campaign to expel foreign criminals.

Judges can already issue expulsion orders for foreign criminals, but the SVP's proposal would require automatic expulsions for those found guilty of ''rape, serious sexual offence, acts of violence such as robbery'', drug trafficking, as well as ''abuse of social aid''.

According to the Federal Office of Migration, about 350-400 people are expelled every year, but this figure would rise to 1500 with the adoption of the initiative.