In the city of Basel, located in the north of Switzerland, a referendum is being held today, November 24, during which residents will decide whether the city should finance the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The issue concerns the allocation of a significant sum of 34.96 million Swiss francs (approximately 39.5 million dollars) approved by the regional authorities for the organization of the event.
The victory at Eurovision 2024 was won by the Swiss singer Nemo with the song "The Code" . This triumph returned the right to host the prestigious competition to Switzerland, with Basel chosen as the ideal venue for the event due to its location on the border with France and Germany. However, the allocation of funds for the competition caused discussions among the public. The initiative for the referendum came from the Swiss Federal Democratic Union party, which collected the necessary number of signatures to put the funding question to a general vote.
Supporters of the funding claim that holding the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel will not only be a global event, but also a great opportunity to promote the city and the entire country. The event can attract thousands of tourists and generate significant economic revenue. Opponents fear that the costs of the organization could become an excessive burden on taxpayers.
The results of the referendum will determine whether Basel gets the chance to host one of the world's biggest music competitions. If the decision is approved, the organizational process starts immediately. Otherwise, Switzerland may refuse to host the event, handing over the opportunity to another country.
