Eurovision 2025: Basel referendum validates funding amidst opposition

When Swiss singer Nemo won Eurovision 2024 with ‘The Code‘, it gave Switzerland the right to host next year’s 69th edition.

However, after a petition by the ultra-conservative Federal Democratic Union of Switzerland (EDU) party garnered enough signatures, the Basel-Stadt canton’s Grand Council’s decision to finance Eurovision 2025 with up to CHF35 million (€37.5 million) of public funds had to be put to a vote through a referendum.

The EDU opposed Eurovision’s financing, fearing that the event would result in a “loss of image” for Basel. Board member Philippe Karoubi criticised the contest for staging what he called “blasphemous performances”, further saying that the competition had become “completely instrumentalised to promote ideologies” like “wokeism” and trans rights.

One of the singers in their crossfire is Ireland’s performer Bambie Thug, one of our favourites from this year’s show, who has been labelled by the EDU as “occult” and “Satanic” – despite the fact it was more Harry Potter inspired.

However, the majority of Basel residents were not swayed by this religiously motivated campaign of opposition, and after more than two weeks of mail voting, Basel has validated the funding for Eurovision 2025.

The final results showed that 38,186 people voted “Yes” for the funding of Eurovision – representing 66.57% of the votes. The turnout was 57 per cent.

Following this overwhelmingly positive response for the backing of putting taxpayer’s money into staging Eurovision 2025, Basel will definitively host Eurovision next year in the host venue St-Jakobshalle.

Had a majority had voted against, the funding would have been blocked and the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation could have removed Basel from the running for hosting the event, according to research by the newspaper bz Basel.

The 2025 Eurovision Song Contest will be staged at the St. Jakobshalle indoor arena, with semi-finals set for 13 and 15 May. The final is to take place on 17 May. 

Additional sources • Swissinfo, AFP, bz Basel