What's the deal with this Basel referendum on Eurovision 2025?
Today, Sunday 24 November, residents of Basel will head to the polls to vote on funding Eurovision 2025.
Basel was selected by the Swiss Broadcaster SRG SSR and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) as the host of Eurovision 2025. This followed Nemo's win for Switzerland at the 2024 Contest.
Why are they voting?
In September, the Basel-Stadt Grand Council voted in favour of funding the event to the tune of 37 million francs (around 62 million Australian dollars).
This money is public money so, under the Swiss system of direct-democracy, citizens could raise issue with this and take it to a referendum.
Citizens in Switzerland can either bring forward something new or vote on a decision or law already passed.
This happens up to four times a year and requires a petition of an appropriate number of citizens.
For large referendum like the constitution or parliamentary laws it requires 100,000 and 50,000 signatures respectively.
As this is a vote for the for Basel-Stadt region it required just 2,000 signatures and it received 3,912 signatures.
Why are they against Eurovision?
The initiative was brought forward by the Federal Democratic Union (EDU) who are an a ultraconservative Christian party.
Their concerns fall into three areas: a doubtful positive economic impact, a negative reputation of the city based on Malmö's experience, and their perceived double-standards of Eurovision not allowing promotion of religious themes.
A video of both arguments is in the video though it's in German.
What happens if the vote against Eurovision is successful?
Eurovision will still happen with semi-finals
A quote from officials saying that it will be "reduced to a large TV show on Saturday” has been taken out of context.
Many reported this will see the end of semi-finals or that Eurovision will be moved.
Edi Estermann, Head of Communication for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, told ESC Kompakt:
"If the city of Basel rejects its financial contribution, the event would have to be massively reduced and the planned side events in particular would be cancelled. In addition to the grand finale on May 17, the two semi-finals would of course also take place."
The missing funding would greatly reduce the amount or size of side events at Eurovision (the village, events in the city etc) if other private funders could not be found.
This would obviously impact fan experience on-the-ground but Eurovision as we mainly know it will still go ahead.
It also clear that making the impact sound as bad as possible (eg moving the city or just a TV event) will help motivate people to vote to fund Eurovision.
There is certainly some political posturing and campaigning.
Will it pass?
There is no way to know with no opinion polls available.
In good news, Basel-Stadt has generally voted more progressively and left-leaning in recent referendums.
ESC Kompakt are confident of the funding being approved saying:
"Nevertheless, it is widely assumed that the people of Basel will approve the loan and thus be able to hold the first "democratically legitimized" Eurovision Song Contest."
Results are expected in the late afternoon or evening of Sunday 24 November in Switzerland. Australians will either find out very late at night or wake up to a decision on Monday morning.
Eurovision is planned to take place in Basel on 13, 15 and 17 May 2025.
For continued updates on all the Eurovision news follow Aussievision on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Blue Sky and Threads. All links at: https://linktr.ee/aussievisionnet
