Through a referendum, the people of Basel overwhelmingly approved the public funding necessary to organize this international competition.
Switzerland, and more particularly the city of Baselis preparing to host one of the biggest European musical events. On Sunday, an election took place in the city for residents to give their opinions on whether or not to hold theEurovision 2025 on their soil.
A city mobilized for an event of international scope
The results are in, the international competition will be held in Basel, Switzerland. The ballot boxes have spoken: the people of Basel have given their consent for the musical competition. With a participation rate of 57.15%, 66.4% of voters subscribed to a budget of nearly 37.4 million euros to sponsor this musical show.
This financial commitment of nearly 35 million Swiss francs will allow the city to offer an immersive and festive experience, beyond the simple television show.
A substantial but promising budget
Beyond the cultural aspect, theEurovision represents a real economic opportunity for Basel. Local authorities estimate that the event could generate up to 60 million Swiss francs in direct benefits. Tourism, hotels, restaurants… all sectors are likely to benefit from this influx of visitors. This financial bet is seen as an opportunity for Basellocated at the crossroads of Switzerland, France and Germany. The 2025 edition, scheduled for May, will last around ten days and should attract an international audience, thus strengthening the city’s notoriety.
While enthusiasm is great, a few voices have been raised to contest this project. The Federal Democratic Union (UDF), a conservative Party, notably denounced a “waste” of public money and raised questions of security. The party had initiated the referendum, also raising concerns related to the security and moral values of the event. Despite these criticisms, the arguments in favor ofEurovision finally won the support of the majority of Basel residents.
The challenges of such an investment
In the absence of this funding, the competition would have been reduced to its Saturday television evening, without the numerous activities which traditionally enrich the event. According to Edi Estermann, communications manager of theEurovision 2025such a version would have deprived Basel of its cultural and economic influence. Andrea Strahm, Basel lawyer and parliamentarian, highlighted the importance of this event for a city historically anchored in arts and music.
Switzerland won theEurovision 2024 thanks to Nemo, a non-binary artist, thus giving Basel the opportunity to host this edition. The choice of the people of Basel is a daring challenge. This event should not only strengthen the international influence of the city, but also stimulate its economy and unite its inhabitants.
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