The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 was won by Swiss singer Nemo with their song "The Code". On 30 August 2024, the European Broadcasting Union selected Basel as the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025, with the event to be held at St. Jakobshalle.[2] Simultaneously, the government of Basel-Stadt canton announced it would submit the funding proposal to the Grand Council of Basel-Stadt for approval.[3]
The Federal Democratic Union (EDU) had promised to launch referendums to potentially block funding proposals in any city that agreed to host the song contest prior to the August announcement.[4] The Grand Council approved the funding proposal, which would set aside CHF 37.464 million[a] for Eurovision, on 11 September.[1] The vote was approved with 87 in favour and 4 against, with 4 abstentions. Signature collection for the referendum began on 14 September, with 2,000 certified signatures being required by 26 October.[5] 4,203 signatures were submitted by the 26 October deadline.[6]
The EDU opposed Basel organising the Eurovision Song Contest due to its belief that Eurovision was a "propaganda event", with EDU legislator Samuel Kullmann stating that the 2024 contest was a "celebration of evil".[4][7] Particular attention was noted to that year's Irish representative Bambie Thug, with Kullman arguing Bambie Thug's performance was "overtly occult to a very, very high degree", and protests around Israel's participation in the event due to the Gaza war, which EDU officials labelled antisemitic.[8] Imagery of Bambie Thug was featured prominently in the EDU's campaign.[9]
While the EDU is generally considered a minor political party, some factions of the larger Swiss People's Party (SVP) offered their support to the EDU's efforts.[4] Marcel Dettling, president of the SVP, argued that the money appropriated for Eurovision would "be better donated to those seriously affected by the storms than wasted on this embarrassing rainbow event", following extreme weather events in the summer of 2024.[8]
Within the canton of Basel-Stadt, the EDU was noted to have a minute level of support, with The New York Times reporting that fewer than 300 voters in Basel city supported the party at the 2023 Swiss federal election.[7] Members of the EDU travelled from outside the canton in order to solicit the required signatures.[6][9]
Edi Estermann, a spokesperson for the Swiss Broadcasting Corporation, stated that the referendum introduced "a certain amount of planning uncertainty", and that if it were to succeed in blocking funding, funding for the Eurovision Song Contest "would have to be greatly reduced".[7][8]
The Executive Council and Grand Council both advised a Yes vote on the referendum.[10]
