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Switzerland: Calls for referendums against hosting Eurovision 2025!

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The Federal Democratic Union (UDF) is challenging the funding allocated for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 organization. The party has announced the launch of referendums, with the Alemannic Federation of Taxpayers, closely aligned with the Swiss People’s Party (UDC), primarily targeting Zurich’s candidacy.

The ultra-conservative evangelical party UDF criticizes the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) for evolving into an event with “increasingly anti-Semitic incidents” and “more satanic and occultist contributions.” They cite protests in Malmö, Sweden, against Israel’s participation in the last ESC due to the Gaza war as an example.

According to the UDF, such manifestations predict a high-security risk for the ESC in Switzerland next May. The party aims to coordinate the collection of signatures against the funds allocated for the potential hosting cities: Zurich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern/Bienne.

Referendums Planned in Zurich and Bern

On Tuesday, UDF sections in the city and canton of Zurich decided to launch a referendum against the city’s 20 million francs funding framework, approved last Wednesday by the legislature. This money is intended to co-finance the event if Zurich is chosen as the host city for the ESC. The cantonal parliament also approved a 5 million francs credit on Monday.

Last Wednesday, the UDF sections in Bern decided to initiate a referendum against the credits for the joint candidacy of Bern and Bienne. In Bern, UDC and Alternative Green politicians have already submitted a referendum text. At the cantonal level, the UDC and UDF will call for a referendum if the nearly 30 million francs credit is approved by the Grand Council.

“The canton of Bern still has significant debt and some of the highest taxes in Switzerland. In this context, we want strict financial policies,” stated UDC National Councillor Manfred Bühler on Tuesday evening in Forum. He affirmed that the UDC Bern‘s opposition is motivated purely by financial concerns, not socio-cultural conservatism.

However, Cyprien Louis, co-president of the Bern Greens, countered that “the economic, visual, and audiovisual benefits that such an event can bring to the region” should also be considered.

UDF Geneva Supports the Contest

The UDF is also targeting the funding for the Geneva and Basel candidacies. In these cities, the funds have yet to be voted on by their respective parliaments.

However, in Geneva, even the UDF is enthusiastic about the potential of hosting the Eurovision. “The UDF Geneva is excited about the local economic benefits of such an event, whether cultural or sports-related. We regret the disappearance of events like the Geneva Motor Show, which hinders the local economy,” explained Lionel Dugerdil, president of UDF Geneva, in the 12h30 program.

Meanwhile, the Alemannic Federation of Taxpayers is focusing on opposing Zurich’s candidacy. The federation questioned why Zurich taxpayers should co-finance the ESC, calling it “a private event,” and is set to decide on launching a referendum against the city’s funding on Wednesday.

By the end of August, the SSR will choose the host city for the Eurovision Song Contest in consultation with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU). Potential referendums will be possible only afterward.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the latest updates on the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

Source: RTS

Eurovision 2025: The financing offered by the four candidate cities!

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We have entered the final stretch for the selection of the city that will now host Eurovision 2025. Zurich, Geneva, Bern and Basel officially submitted their proposals on Friday July 28 and are now awaiting the decision of the Swiss public television and the EBU. But the local authorities of the four cities financially support the candidacies of their cities, wanting to make their candidacy files stronger. But how much money is contained in the envelopes of the four nominations? Let’s see them in detail.

Who offers the most?

Switzerland’s public television, strange as it may seem to you, does not have a prosperous economy. In future, it will receive only 300 instead of 335 francs a year from each household – on Thursday the SRF announced it would cut around 70 full-time jobs by early 2025, while the country’s political forces argue that 200 francs per household is enough. Therefore, the financial assistance that each city receives from its local authorities is important for achieving the final goal, which is the same for all. Taking over the organization of Eurovision 2025!

Geneva offers the most money: the city and the canton offer 30 million francs. Zurich offers 25 million, Basel ten. Bern comes last: 8 million francs. The home canton of Eurovision 2024 winner Nemo offers by far the lowest financial support. “However, money is not everything”, says the mayor of the city.

The selection process

In the coming days, the first online meetings between the Swiss public television and the teams of the four cities will take place. At the end of July, the SRF will announce the two best candidates, which a team from the EBU and the Swiss public television will visit to discuss and see the proposed venues for Eurovision 2025. At the end of August, the city will be announced which will host the 69th Eurovision Song Contest next May.

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the developments!

Source: Blick

Switzerland: Four cities in the running for Eurovision 2025!

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The deadline for interested cities to submit bids to host Eurovision 2025 draws near, as announced by Swiss public television. According to the website of the Swiss public television, Zürich, Geneva, Basel, and Bern are the four cities competing for the hosting of the 69th Eurovision Song Contest.

The Swiss public television provides us with information regarding the four potential host cities, while presenting their pros and cons.

Bern

The local cantonal government has finally supported the idea of hosting Eurovision 2025 in Bern, the nation’s capital and fourth most populous city, despite Bern’s initial hesitation to submit a bid. For this reason, the local government is negotiating a 7 million euro grant. The proposed venue, Bernexpo, has 9,000 seats, but it won’t be ready until April 2025. A small airport and a limited availability of accommodation is indeed a challenge, though.

Basel

Basel appears to have high expectations for winning the race for the hosting of the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. With a capacity of 12,000 spectators, St. Jakobshalle is its candidacy. Basel has experience with these kinds of events, holding a vibrant festival called Art Week each year.

Geneva

For many, the city that serves as the EBU’s headquarters is ideal. Cheap accommodation is guaranteed by its proximity to the French border, and tourists can quickly and easily travel there every day by bus and train. All of the main European destinations are connected to the city’s international airport. Palexpo, which has a 15,000 seat capacity, is the suggested location. The only drawback to Geneva’s candidacy is its lack of vibrant nightlife.

Zürich

The largest city in Switzerland is also the clear favorite to host Eurovision 2025. The city is regarded as the heart of the country’s LGBTQ+ community, and it has unlimited options for accommodation and a major airport. There are two potential venues: the Hallenstadion (15,000 seats) and the Swiss Life Arena (12,000 seats).

The decision is expected to be made in late August.

Stay tuned to EurovisionFun for all the news!

Source: SRF

Eurovision 2025: Fribourg will check hosting bid!

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Fribourg could join the list of candidate cities to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2025.

The preliminary examination has just started as confirmed by the CEO of HC Fribourg-Gottéronw, a renowned ice hockey club in Fribourg, John Gobbi.  At the moment there is no formal host bid.  However, the discussions are going on and the city is debating whether or not Fribourg may host Eurovision in 2025.

If Fribourg decides to bid, the most likely scenario is that they offer the BCF Arena, home of the HC Fribourg-Gottéron team to host the event which could hold up to 9,000 spectators which is below the requirements to host the event.  However, one of the problems to be selected is the size of the arena and potential clashes with ice hockey matches.

We are also analysing if the ice rink could meet the size requirements. It is certainly big but there are bigger arenas in Switzerland.

Furthermore, the local government of Fribourg has confirmed its intent to examine whether they are able to place a bid.  Before making that move they will assess if they can meet the accommodation and arena requirements.

Four Swizz cities have already confirmed their intent to become the host city of Eurovision 2025. They are:

  • Basel
  • Geneva
  • St. Gallen
  • Zurich

Source: Frapp

Stay tuned at EurovisionFun for more news about the Eurovision Song Contest 2025!

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