The Swiss right wing EDU party have submitted their petition for a referendum on Eurovision 2025 receiving cantonal funding after collecting 4,203 signatures, exceeding the 2,000 required for a referendum. The signatures must now be verified by the State Chancellery.
Referendum Details
Following the Grand Council of Basel voting 87 votes to 4 (with 4 abstentions) to allocate CHF35m in cantonal funding to Eurovision 2025, the right wing party EDU/UDF, who are not represented on the Grand Council, launched a petition against the contest.
Petitions in Basel-Stadt canton trigger a referendum if they receive at least 2,000 signatures from residents. The petition against funding the contest received 4,203 – meaning that, following the certification of the signatures, a referendum on the funding will take place. None of the major parties on the cantonal council oppose funding the contest.
Should the referendum happen, it will take place on 24 November, on the same day as existing referendums on the right for foreigners to vote and stand in elections, as well as a popular initiative calling for “more musical diversity”
Speaking last month to Basler Zeitung, Basel’s Cantonal President, Conrad Cramer said he believes the referendum is likely to fail at the ballot box, saying:
If the EDU referendum were to be successful at the ballot box, which I do not believe will happen, the loan for the ESC would not be approved. Basel would therefore not be able to make the expenditure and the situation would have to be re-analysed together with the SRG.
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 as the final two cities. After the shortlist, it was revealed that Basel will host Eurovision 2025, at St. Jakobshalle with the shows taking place on May 13, 15 and 17.
What do you think about Basel hosting? Do you plan on going to the contest next year? As always, let us know what you think by commenting down below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky for all the latest Eurovision news!
News Source: SRF
Photo Credit: SRG SSR
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