Government Council BS Up to three proposals to be voted on in Basel-Stadt on November 24

The Basel government has scheduled the vote on the popular initiative "for more musical diversity" and voting rights for foreigners for November 24. If the referendum is successful, a decision will also be taken on the loan for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel.

The Basel electorate will therefore decide on two to three proposals on November 24, as announced by the executive on Tuesday.

The unformulated music diversity initiative submitted in 2022 calls for the canton to support independent music creation with at least one third of the entire music funding budget. The Basel Grand Council recommended that the initiative be rejected in June by 49 votes to 37 with 7 abstentions. In doing so, it followed its Education and Culture Commission and the government, which also decided against a counter-proposal.

The partial revision of the constitution of the Canton of Basel-Stadt regarding voting rights for foreigners will also be put to the vote on November 24. In June, after a long and emotional debate, the Basel parliament approved a corresponding amendment to the constitution by 53 votes to 41.

Specifically, foreign nationals are to be given the opportunity to take part in cantonal votes and elections in future. However, the right to stand for election, i.e. the opportunity to be elected, is excluded.

If the referendum announced by the EDU against the loan of almost CHF 35.0 million for the Eurovision Song Contest comes to fruition, the Basel electorate will also decide on this on November 24. The loan will be discussed in parliament on Wednesday.