Riot police were seen clashing with protesters at the Eurovision Song Contest in 2019, and it’s feared that this year’s event in Basel, Switzerland, could be targeted
As the Eurovision Song Contest week kicks off, Basel could become a hotspot for protests due to Israel’s participation, which continues to spark outrage amidst the ongoing Gaza conflict. The city is set to host the 2025 contest following Switzerland’s Nemo’s victory last May in Sweden with their song ‘The Code’, a reflection on their non-binary identity.
Around 1,300 Swiss police officers are expected to be on duty in Basel this week, bolstered by additional forces from the Swiss Armed Forces, federal police and neighbouring countries – Germany and France. This comes ahead of the two semi-finals on Tuesday and Thursday, and the grand final on Saturday.
Adrian Plachesi, head of communications for Basel police, told PA news agency that they are aware such events could pose an “increased risk of terror attacks” from extremists. They are also keeping an eye out for potential “cyber attacks” on the city’s infrastructure.
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In response to the “heightened threat level”, the force has ramped up video surveillance and implemented some road closures in the city centre, according to Swiss police. Mr Plachesi revealed that no permission has been granted for protests, but officers will be positioned in anticipation of pro-Palestinian demonstrations. He warned that officers “might have to intervene” if demonstrations compromise “public safety”.
Local activists, Basel for Palestine, attempted to display Palestinian flags near the Eurovision opening event, the Turquoise Carpet, on Sunday. More protests are planned for Saturday in the city centre at 7pm.
Israel has sounded an alarm for its citizens planning a trip to Basel, cautioning that “events of this type are a preferred target for threats and attacks by various terrorist elements”, and advising them to steer clear of “hot spots and these demonstrations, which could escalate into violence”.
Travellers are also cautioned to “avoid attending large-scale events associated with Israel that are not secured” and to “minimise Israeli/Jewish symbols in public spaces”.
At Malmo 2024 in Sweden, the streets were flooded with thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters, including notable climate activist Greta Thunberg. Meanwhile, Eurovision’s organisers, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), struggled to market the event’s theme ‘united by music’ while striving to keep it free from political undertones.
Despite anticipated protests, the Swiss are gearing up for a Eurovision extravaganza they believe will be memorable. Rumours swirl that Eurovision legend Celine Dion might grace the stage again, as Switzerland gears up for the celebration, promising a festive food and drink street, 250 hours of thrilling live music, and the much-anticipated Eurovision Village.
Their selection for 2025 is Basel-born songbird Zoe Me, who penned Voyage in Scotland, collaborating with Scottish songstress and ex-X Factor contender Ili, real name Emily Middlemas, and Theo Adams, the creative mastermind behind Olly Alexander’s mesmerising Dizzy act in 2024.
In conversation with PA, Me expressed her aspiration to be a “good host”. She said, “the main goal for me is reaching people’s hearts and maybe changing their lives for the better” through the power of her songs.
Mr Plachesi has given some advice to UK Eurovision fans heading to Basel, urging them to “have fun”, remember the emergency services number 112, and download the Welcome Home – Basel app for information on how to get help.
Among the current favourites to win is KAJ, a group from Finland’s Swedish-speaking minority who will represent Sweden. Their upbeat comical song Bara Bada Bastu is inspired by Nordic sauna culture.
This marks the first time since the 1990s that Sweden, which shares the record for the most Eurovision wins with Ireland, has entered a song in Swedish. This was made possible when rules about competing in a country’s official language were relaxed.
Other contenders include Dutch entry Claude Kiambe’s C’est La Vie, Israeli singer Yuval Raphael, a survivor of the October 7 2023 Hamas attacks, with New Day Will Rise, Austrian singer JJ’s Wasted Love, and French singer Louane’s ballad Maman.
In May last year, the Netherlands’ contestant Joost Klein was expelled by the EBU just before the final due to alleged verbal threats to a female production worker. The decision was strongly criticised by Dutch broadcaster Avrotros, and a criminal case against Klein was later dropped by Swedish prosecutors. Following a review, the EBU has pledged a new code of conduct for 2025, introducing a range of measures to “protect” the wellbeing of artists in Basel.
This year, former Eurovision stars including Ireland’s victor Charlie McGettigan and the UK’s Mae Muller, who finished second to last in 2023, have penned a letter demanding a ban on Israel’s public broadcaster Kan, accusing Israel of “genocide”, a claim which Israel refutes.
Just last week, Irish demonstrators, including The Crying Game actor Stephen Rea, advocated for an RTE boycott of the event. The Irish broadcaster has reached out to the EBU for a broader discussion about Israel’s participation.
On Tuesday, performances from Sweden, Switzerland, the Netherlands and Ukraine’s Ziferblat are scheduled, with Thursday seeing the UK’s girl group Remember Monday, Ireland’s Emmy Kristiansen and Israel taking the stage.
The EBU has acknowledged the “concerns and deeply held views around the current conflict in the Middle East”, but has highlighted that Kan is not backed by the Israeli government, which has been “threatening to shut down the broadcaster”.
Last year, Kan reported it had “faced immense pressure and an unprecedented display of hatred, notably from other delegations and artists”, when Eden Golan made it to the final with Hurricane.
The Gaza Health Ministry reports that over 51,000 Palestinians, primarily women and children, have lost their lives in the Hamas-Israel war. Israel disputes these numbers, asserting that approximately 20,000 militants have been killed.
Get ready for prime-time entertainment as the semi-finals and final of the much-anticipated event kick off at 8pm UK time, with live coverage on BBC One and BBC Radio 2. In the grand finale, former champ Switzerland will join forces with the “big five” – the UK, France, Germany, Italy, and Spain – to battle it out against the successful qualifiers.