Finland at Eurovision 2025: The president’s statement sparked controversy. What really happened behind the scenes, and how did Finland’s Eurovision representative Erika Vikman respond?
As rehearsals for Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland, are underway, a political-cultural storm broke out in Finland following a visit by President Alexander Stubb to the town of Vora, birthplace of the Swedish band KAJ. During his visit last Tuesday, the president attended an event where the local band performed before a packed hall of excited high school students. When asked whom he supports in the upcoming Eurovision, Stubb surprised many by declaring:
“There is a band with almost the same name as mine – my name is Cai-Göran Alexander Stubb. If KAJ wins Eurovision, in the end it is Finland and Vora that win”.
Warm Performance and Enthusiastic Reception
The event took place in the Norvala High School sports hall in Vora, where the president and his wife were warmly welcomed. KAJ electrified the stage with performances of several of their past hits, climaxing with the song “Bara Bada Bastu”, which elicited a passionate response from the audience. Later that evening, the president promised that if KAJ wins Eurovision, he would invite the band members for a visit to the presidential sauna.
Stubb also shared a personal moment with the crowd:
“I was very moved the first time I heard ‘Bara Bada Bastu’. It is definitely a favorite song of mine. And if KAJ wins – for me, it’s a victory for both Finland and Vora”.
Erika Vikman’s Measured Yet Wry Response Amid Social Media Backlash
The social media reactions were swift and intense, focusing not only on the president’s support for a Swedish band but mainly on the conspicuous disregard for Finland’s Eurovision representative, singer Erika Vikman. Critics questioned how Finland’s president could openly support a representing band from another country while completely ignoring his own country’s entrant.
Vikman herself remained composed in an interview with the Finnish newspaper “Iltalehti”. When asked about the president’s remarks, she responded in good spirits:
“It’s great that the president supports his people”.
she added with a smile. However, she quickly followed with a sharper message:
“There’s nothing surprising here for me. But it would definitely be nice to see one day that the greats of the nation stand behind women like me”.
She also noted her familiarity with Stubb’s musical tastes:
“He himself said he likes the music of Olli Halosen, and KAJ operates in a similar genre. So I wasn’t surprised at all by his comments”.
Dramatic Development: The President Apologizes
A few days after the event, the president’s office announced that Stubb personally contacted Erika Vikman to apologize. The president emphasized that there was no intention to offend or diminish Vikman’s status and expressed hope for a “double victory” for Finland this year – hinting that Finland is represented both by KAJ and Vikman.
Vikman responded with humor in a subsequent interview on Finnish national broadcaster’s channel when asked what she expects to see:
“Let’s see what KAJ will wear for the president’s Independence Day ball”.
she said with another playful jab.
Preparing for Eurovision: A Tight Race Between KAJ and Erika Vikman
The Swedish band KAJ will perform in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2025, while Erika Vikman will compete in the second semi-final with her song. The battle for a spot in the final is expected to be especially close and intense this year, particularly given the media uproar surrounding the president’s support controversy. While critical voices continue to echo, it remains to be seen how the public will respond on the day of truth. Will Vikman captivate the stage and close the circle, or will support for KAJ prevail in the hearts of voters?
Finland at Eurovision 2025
“Ich Komme” is the title of the song that will be performed by singer Erika Vikman, who will represent Finland in the second semi-final of Eurovision 2025, taking place on May 15th in Basel, Switzerland. The song was written by Christel Roosberg and Jori Roosberg. This is the first song by these writers to compete in Eurovision. The song is performed in Finnish, with the title in German.
Erika Vikman – Who Are You?
Erika Vikman, born on February 20th, 1993, is a Finnish singer-songwriter. Erika is one of Finland’s biggest pop stars and is known to Eurovision fans for her participation in the 2020 national selection, where she finished second with the song “Cicciolina“, which became a sensation in Finland and subsequently led to her rise to fame and status. Erika is known for her provocative performances and catchy yet clever pop songs. She described her song “Ich Komme” as a “crazy” creation, an unusual pop song with a lot of thought behind it, which also achieved great success in Finland.Source: Yle, Osterbottenstidning, iltalehti.
Eurovision 2025: This will be Finland’s 58th participation in the Eurovision Song Contest. Finland joined the competition in 1961 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 2006, winning the contest with Lordi and their song “Hard Rock Hallelujah”.
