With the announcement of what city will host Eurovision 2025 coming at the end of this month, fresh opposition to the contest has arisen with further calls for referendums should Geneva be awarded the contest.
More potential referendums
The youth wing of the populist Swiss People’s Party has announced its firm opposition to public money being used to fund a Genevan hosting of the contest, and in doing so have threatened to call for municipal and cantonal referendums.
The party sees the possibility of Geneva spending the estimated 30 to 40 million Swiss Francs on the contest as an “irresponsible use” of public funds. The party believes that a referendum would be necessary to prevent the taxpayer’s money being diverted to what it sees as an event that is used for “controversial and political statements”. The decision on if Geneva will host the 2025 edition of the Eurovision Song Contest will be announced on the 30th of this month.
All About Eurovision 2025
Switzerland will be hosting the 69th edition of the competition following Nemo’s historic win at Eurovision 2024 in Malmö. A few weeks after their win, Reto Peritz, and Moritz Stadler, was announced as the Executive Producers, with the other roles revealed in July 2024.
Basel, Bern & Biel/Bienne, Geneva, and Zurich submitted bids to host next year’s competition, with Basel and Geneva being shortlisted and still in the running to be the Eurovision 2025 Host City The final decision as to who will be hosting next year’s comeptition will be revealed on the 30th August by SRG SSR and the EBU.
What do you think of the announcement? Do you think this could affect Geneva’s ability to host? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we start our preparations for Eurovision 2025!
Photo Credit: Mourad Ben Abdallah / Wikimedia Commons
News Source: 20 Minutes
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