BBC Outside Source 6:00pm - 7:00pm

Listen Live

Search

Vote launched against Eurovision

Tuesday, 17 September 2024 06:30

A small conservative party has launched a referendum against hosting the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel next year.

The Federal Democratic Union doesn’t have any representatives in the Basel parliament.

It has until the end of October to collect 2,000 signatures to force a referendum against plans by the Basel City government to spend CHF 35m on hosting the competition. 

The Federal Democratic Union is described as Christian fundamentalists and only has 3,000 members across the country. It’s opposed to abortion, homosexuality and fertility treatment. 

If enough names are collected, a vote could be held as quickly as November 24th. If successful, a new venue would be needed. 

Share

More from Bitesize News

  • SBB reports increase in incidents

    Staff on Switzerland's rail network face around ten incidents of abuse or threat every working day, with insults, racist comments and physical attacks all on the rise since the pandemic

  • Households feeling the financial strain

    Even middle-class Swiss households say they are struggling to make ends meet, with 89% of Swiss now tracking spending every month

  • Conference underway in Geneva

    The Building Bridges conference has opened in Geneva, bringing finance houses, NGOs, companies and academics together for three days on climate and sustainability

  • More student violence in France

    Police fired tear gas yesterday at student demonstrators outside Lycée Monge in Chambéry, as the lycée protests that shut Haute-Savoie schools last week spread into neighbouring Savoie

  • Health insurance premiums only rising

    Swiss basic health premiums could pass CHF 1,000.- a month within 15 years if the current rate of increase holds

  • Borrowing costs increase

    Switzerland is being pulled into a global surge in borrowing costs

Follow WRS

Download our app

  • Available on the App Store
  • Available on Google Play