Swiss capital backs Eurovision Song Contest bid

The majority of Bern's city parliament supports Bern and Biel's bid for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. On Thursday, the council approved a contribution of CHF7 million by 34 votes to 22. Fourteen council members abstained from voting. The SP, the Centre Party and the FDP helped the bill to a breakthrough. Do you want to read our weekly top stories? Subscribe here. The spokesperson for the Liberals spoke of a "spring fairy tale that benefits everyone" and could bring Bern added value in the two to three-digit million range. The federal city would become "the centre of Europe and the world, and for little money," enthused the spokesperson for the Centre Party. Opposition came from the SVP and the far-left parties AL, PdA and GaP, supported by individual Greens and two young left-wing parties. The event was not environmentally friendly and was simply too big for Bern, they said. It was also considered risky to plan the world's largest music competition in the new Festhalle. This is ...