"Satanism and occultism" Young SVP takes referendum against ESC loan in Zurich

Following the EDU Switzerland's nationwide threat of a referendum against all loans for venues for the Eurovision Song Contest (ESC), the Junge SVP in Zurich is getting serious: it is launching a referendum against the city's 20 million loan.

Keystone-SDA

09.07.2024, 18:27

09.07.2024, 18:29

SDA

The young party announced this in a communiqué on Tuesday evening. It argues that the loan for "such a controversial major event" is in no way justified. It is disconcerting that public funds are supporting an event that is being misused for political statements.

The Young SVP mentions the introduction of a third gender and "blatant anti-Semitism". At the ESC in Malmö, anti-Semitism and discrimination were tolerated without reflection. The Junge SVP is taking the referendum in order to "strengthen our understanding of a free and tolerant society" and to protect the standing of the city of Zurich.

In Zurich, where the city parliament approved a 20 million euro loan last week, the taxpayers' association also wants to oppose the ESC. On Wednesday evening, the SVP-affiliated organization will officially decide on the referendum.

ESC put to the people for a vote

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. This year's performance by singer Bambie Thugs from Ireland was at least a visual example of this.

The right-wing conservative and evangelical-oriented EDU is demanding that all loans for the organization of the ESC 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.

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 francs to the people failed in the Bernese parliament. Exponents of the SVP and the Green-Alternative Party have now submitted the referendum form for preliminary examination.

"Embarrassing rainbow event"SVP threatens referendum against ESC in Switzerland

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 who will be awarded the contract at the end of August. Any referendums would not take place until later.