The Federal Democratic Union (EDU) has submitted the necessary signatures for a referendum. (picture alliance / KEYSTONE / GEORGIOS KEFALAS)
The chairman of the small party, Frischknecht, explained when handing over the around 4,000 signatures in the Basel town hall that the canton could invest the money better than for the ESC. In recent years this has become a propaganda platform for homosexuals and non-binary people. The referendum will take place on November 24th.
If the citizens of the canton vote against the financial contribution, the previously planned multi-day program surrounding the ESC will probably not be able to be financed. A spokesman for the Swiss broadcasting company SRG, which organizes the ESC, said that numerous events in the city would then be cancelled. The outcome of the referendum should have no impact on the big television show on Saturday evening.
The ESC is always held in the home country of the previous year’s winner. After Nemo’s victory in Malmö 2024, it will be Switzerland next year. The 69th Eurovision Song Contest will take place from May 13th to 17th in the St. Jakobshalle in Basel.
This message was sent on October 27th, 2024 on the Deutschlandfunk program.
