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The mayor of Geneva talks exclusively to Eurovisionfun about Eurovision 2025!

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The Greek-born mayor of Geneva, Christina Kitsos, speaks exclusively to Eurovisionfun immediately after the announcement of the Swiss public television and the EBU with the shortlist of the two candidate cities (Geneva and Basel), which continue to claim the Eurovision 2025!

Geneva is a city of hospitality, says the city’s mayor

I have had the pleasure of knowing Christina for more than 15 years, when we both made our debut in local government as young councillors. So I couldn’t help but congratulate her on her city’s success, being literally one step away from hosting the 69th Eurovision Song Contest next May.

Christina congratulations on your success! It is now very possible that Geneva will host Eurovision 2025!

We are all very happy in Geneva and we hope to succeed and bring Eurovision to our city.

Where does Geneva excel compared to Basel? What is the strong point of its candidacy?

The great strength in Geneva is the knowledge we have in the organization of large events. As an example, we hosted the summit of the USA and Russia in 2021 with Biden-Putin. Both in the canton and in the city, the local parliaments support the holding of Eurovision 2025 in Geneva.

Any message you want to send as the mayor of one of the two candidate cities?

Geneva is ready to host Eurovision 2025. It has values ​​of hospitality, openness to the world with 190 nationalities present in the city. Human rights at its heart.

Christina, thank you very much!

I thank you and we hope to welcome you all next May in Geneva.

Who is Christina Kitsos?

Christina Kitsos is a child of Greeks and a second generation immigrant. She has been involved in politics since she was very young, in the Socialist Party of Switzerland, passing through all the offices of the local government. Christina’s rise to mayor comes in recognition of her dedication to public service and her commitment to addressing key issues facing the city.

The office of mayor of Geneva (maire de Genève) rotates annually among the five members of the council, the city’s executive government. The term of Christina Kitsos started on June 1, 2024 and ends on May 31, 2025. That is, she will be the one who will conduct the entire process for claiming the organization of Eurovision 2025 in Geneva, but she will also be the mayor of the city, when the 69th Eurovision Song Contest takes place next year.

Below, see the interview of Christina Kitsos on ERT three months ago:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!

Christina Kitsos: The Greek mayor of the city is ready to host Eurovision in Geneva!

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She is the first Greek woman elected mayor in Switzerland and in fact in one of its largest cities, Geneva. Her name is Christina Kitsos who from June 1, 2024 is the mayor of the city and the one who will make every effort to bring the competition in May 2025 to Geneva.

Will a Greek woman welcome us in Switzerland in 2025?

Christina Kitsos is a child of Greeks and a second generation immigrant. She has been involved in politics since she was very young, in the Socialist Party of Switzerland, passing through all the offices of the local government. Christina’s rise to mayor comes in recognition of her dedication to public service and commitment to addressing key issues facing the city.

The office of mayor of Geneva (maire de Genève) rotates annually among the five members of the council, the city’s executive government. The term of Christina Kitsos started on June 1, 2024 and ends on May 31, 2025. In other words, she will be the one who will conduct the entire process for claiming the organization of Eurovision 2025 in Geneva, but she will also be the mayor of the city, when the 69th Eurovision Song Contest takes place next year.

I was lucky enough to know Christina since I was an elected municipal councilor and we participated together in a conference of young elected officials from all over Europe. I know how much she loves and is connected to Greece and her Greek origins (her father is from Thessaloniki) and I think it would be a wonderful opportunity to go to a city that hosts Eurovision and whose mayor is a young woman , who is also Greek.

Eurovision is a great opportunity to promote Geneva to the world, promoting music as a global language that brings countries together, changes mindsets and transforms perspectives.

Christina Kitsos

Geneva or Zurich?

The municipality, the canton of Geneva and the Board of Directors of Palexpo, the venue that will host the contest if the city wins the event, have joined forces in an effort to bring Eurovision 2025 to Geneva.

After St. Gallen‘s withdrawal from the title race, the only opponent is Zurich, who, according to the bookmakers, is the favorite. Zurich has not yet officially announced that it is going to submit a candidacy, since the city’s municipal council is going to decide on this very soon.

Interested cities have until June 30 to apply, while the decision on which city will host Eurovision 2025 is expected to be announced in August.

Watch Christina Kitsos’s last interview two months ago:

Stay tuned to Eurovisionfun for all the updates!