Keystone-SDA
In Basel City, the credit of 37.5 million francs for side events at next year’s Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) was approved with 66.57% of votes in favour.
This content was published on November 24, 2024 – 6:31 pm
(Keystone-ATS) The credit obtained 38,186 votes in favor and 19,172 against, with participation reaching 57.15%.
The vote was taken following a referendum by the Federal Democratic Union (UDF), a conservative Christian-inspired party with little roots in the Rhineland city. The party’s president at the national level, Daniel Frischknecht, argued in an interview that the ESC endangers “divine order”. And that in the last 15 years the event has become a “propaganda platform for homosexuals and non-binary people”.
The credit will be used to finance the Eurovision side programme, as well as infrastructure, security, transport and accommodation. The hypothesized expenditure is around 35 million francs, from which 2.5 million revenues from the “Arena Plus” public viewing program to be held in the St. Jakob-Park stadium would be deducted.
Voting rights denied to foreigners with C permit
The voters of Basel City instead rejected with a majority of 55.58% (25,875 yes against 32,377 no) a decree of the Grand Council which would have introduced the right to vote – but not the right to be elected – to foreigners who they have resided in the Canton for at least five years and have a residence permit (permit C) with unlimited right of residence.
The parliament’s decision was subject to a mandatory referendum as it requires an amendment to the cantonal constitution.
