Basel before referendum: Credit for ESC ensures controversial debate

Basel before referendum: Credit for ESC ensures controversial debate

The discussion about financing the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) 2025 in Switzerland is picking up speed. The edu , a Christian-national-conservative small party, has successfully collected the required number of signatures for a referendum and will soon be officially submitted to the certification. 4,203 signatures were handed over on Saturday, whereby only 2,000 were required for the referendum. This means that the referendum on the planned loan of CHF 34.9 million (around CHF 37.18 million) is for the issue of the ESC on 24. November 2024 now secured for the first time.

The EDU, which achieved a vote of only 1.2 percent in the last National Council elections, expressed strong concerns about the event. The party president, Daniel Frischknecht , said that the politicians from Basel-Stadt should better invest the financial contribution in other areas. The EDU described the ESC as a "propaganda event" for which public funds should not be used.

political controversy and public opinion

The concerns of the EDU not only stir from financial aspects. Frischknecht argues that the ESC is not only a music event, but is very politically and ideologically charged. This point of view is confirmed by numerous controversy associated with the event. For example, he emphasized the performance of the Irish Bambi Thug during this year's ESC in Malmö, which many perceived as provocative. The EDU President expressed that in contrast to 2013 the Swiss Salvation Army was prohibited in the Christian framework in the ESC.

The debate about the ESC raises both cultural and economic questions. A spokesman for the Swiss television broadcaster SRG confirmed that if the Basler should vote against the financial contribution, this would have a significant impact on the event. The ESC could then be reduced to a single big television show on Saturday evening, which would result in the number of accompanying events. Of course, this would also significantly reduce economic value creation for the city.

The opinions in public are shared. While some see the event as a cultural highlight, others fear that public funds are used for an event surrounded by political and social tensions. The upcoming vote could thus become an important indicator of the population's attitudes towards the ESC and the general use of public funds. More details on this topic can be found in a detailed report on k.at .