Music EDU threatens referendum against all ESC bids
There is growing opposition to the Eurovision Song Contest in Switzerland: the EDU Switzerland is threatening a referendum against all ESC bids. The Taxpayers' Association in Zurich also wants to prevent taxpayers' money from being spent on it.
09.07.2024, 09:52
09.07.2024, 11:05
SDA
The right-wing conservative EDU is calling for all loans for the organization of the ESC to be put to a popular vote. As it announced on Tuesday, it therefore intends to launch a referendum against the various ESC loans in the candidate cities.
Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern/Biel are in the running to host the event. The estimated costs of over 40 million francs are largely financed by taxpayers' money, the party criticizes.
"Satanism and occultism"
Although the singing competition has the potential to be a cheerful folk festival, it has developed "in a different direction" in recent years, according to the EDU.
Recently, anti-Semitic incidents have become more frequent. The demonstrations against the Israeli singer Eden Golan have also given rise to fears that holding the ESC in Switzerland could pose a considerable security risk.
In addition, there are more and more performances in which Satanism and occultism are celebrated. One example of this, at least visually, was this year's performance by singer Bambie Thugs from Ireland.
In Zurich, where the city parliament approved a 20 million loan last week, the taxpayers' association also wants to defend itself against the ESC. On Wednesday evening, the SVP-affiliated organization plans to officially decide on the referendum.
Referendum threats in Bern too
There are also threats of a referendum in Bern. A motion to voluntarily submit the city's contribution of seven million Swiss francs to the people failed in the city parliament. Exponents of the SVP and the Green-Alternative Party have now submitted the referendum form for preliminary examination.
At cantonal level, the SVP and EDU are threatening a referendum against the loan of just under CHF 30 million submitted by the cantonal government. The money is primarily intended to cover security costs.
In Basel, the SVP is also in favor of the ESC
In Basel-Stadt, no opposition to a possible staging of the Eurovision Song Contest has been noticeable to date. On the contrary: at the beginning of June, the Grand Council passed a resolution introduced by the GLP in favor of a bid by 74 votes to 8 with 6 abstentions. Most members of the SVP parliamentary group were also in favor.
There has also been no opposition in Geneva so far. However, the city and cantonal parliaments have yet to decide on the loans. The SRG will decide together at the end of August who will be awarded the contract. Any referendums would not take place until later.
