Israel’s participation in Eurovision threatens to increase the number of boycotting countries.
Belgium may not be seen at Eurovision next spring. The country was represented in Vienna by Essyla with the song Dancing on the Ice.
Inka Soveri
VRT, the Belgian Flemish broadcasting company, threatens to boycott Eurovision next spring. The matter is revealed in a statement published on the public broadcasting company’s website in the news.
– At the moment, there is a very small probability that VRT will send the artist next spring, the spokesperson Yasmine Van der Borght says.
The reason is Israel’s participation in the song contest. The country has been criticized for the war in Gaza.
– We expect a strong message from the European Broadcasting Union against war and violence and in favor of respecting human rights. These are the values that should unite the festival, and at the moment they are far too much overshadowed, the spokesman commented.
Belgian French-language broadcasting company RTBF participated in the competition this year. The country was represented by Essyla with a song Dancing on the Ice.
Vienna Eurovision was boycotted this spring by: Netherlands, Slovenia, Spain, Ireland and Iceland. In Slovenia, the public broadcasting company showed documentaries and films about Palestine during Eurovision.
In Spain, Israel’s participation has also sparked strong exits. The country’s long-time wisecracking Juanma Fernandez did not spare his words in the interview with Iltalehti.
– This should be a cultural celebration, but Israel uses visas to whitewash its own politics. It spends millions of money to organize votes for its own candidates, Fernández argued.
Israel was represented this year by Noam Bettan. Alma Bengtson
Dara, who represented Bulgaria, won the singing competition this year with a song Bangaranga. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev has already announced that the country plans to organize a singing competition next spring.
– A new gap opens up in the budget. Nobody expected Eurovision. Now the budget must have a separate Eurovision part, the outgoing finance minister George Klisursky comment.
Finnish has announced participating in next spring’s Eurovision. Finland’s representative is selected in the New Music Competition.
