Eurovision Voting Controversy: European Broadcasters Call for Review After Israeli Entry's Public Support
Broadcasters throughout Europe are questioning the voting system of the Eurovision Song Contest following a contentious finale where Israel’s entry received overwhelming public support but ultimately did not secure victory. Austria’s JJ took home the win with the song "Wasted Love," while Israel’s entry, "New Day Will Rise" performed by Yuval Raphael, dominated the public vote, garnering points from 34 out of 38 voting nations.
Finland's Yle Entertainment stated that they would formally request the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) to reassess the voting rules. Spain’s state broadcaster echoed this sentiment, calling for a complete review to prevent any potential external manipulation of the results. Ireland’s RTÉ has similarly asked for a detailed breakdown of the voting numbers, while the Netherlands and Iceland have also raised concerns regarding the voting process. Martin Green, the director of the competition, acknowledged these issues and stated that the organizers would take them seriously.
Raphael's song resonated with the public, especially as he is a survivor of the terror attack at the Nova musical festival in Israel. However, public streaming data from platforms like Spotify and YouTube indicates that "New Day Will Rise" was not as popular as other entries, coming in as the 19th most popular track of the competition that week. Despite this, it achieved maximum points (douze points) from 13 different national votes.
Israeli government social media channels actively encouraged citizens to vote for their representative, with posts suggesting individuals cast their votes the maximum of 20 times, raising questions about the integrity of the voting process. This aggressive voting strategy is currently not against Eurovision rules but raises ethical concerns about fairness.
Belgian broadcaster VRT provided insights suggesting a disconnection between viewership and voting behaviors, revealing a dramatic increase in votes from Belgium despite a significant drop in the audience size. In 2023, 13 million votes were cast, which jumped to 2 million in 2024 and surged to 22 million in 2025, despite fewer viewers.
Dutch broadcaster AvroTros remarked that the Eurovision Song Contest's political neutrality is increasingly challenged by social and geopolitical pressures. Among supporters, there is a view that the recent results could be seen as a setback for anti-Israel sentiments, as noted by the Jewish Chronicle, which described the outcome as a clear message from Eurovision fans.
Ewan Spence, senior editor at ESC Insight, highlighted potential issues for any future Israeli victories amid ongoing conflicts, noting that if Israel were to win the contest, hosting responsibilities would likely fall on Kan, which could pose significant security challenges.
He pointed out that any scenario necessitating co-hosting arrangements could damage Eurovision's reputation within Israel and pose public relations challenges for the collaborating broadcasters. Germany was mentioned as a potential co-host if the EBU were to assist in the hosting responsibilities, similar to how the UK co-hosted for Ukraine in 2023.
However, the prospect of the contest being hosted in Israel is complicated by ongoing geopolitical tensions. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez even called for Israel's expulsion from Eurovision, likening the situation to Russia's recent exclusion from various international events, arguing for the need to prevent double standards in cultural participation.
Furthermore, there are claims that recent regulations imposed by the EBU to accommodate Israel are affecting the atmosphere of the contest. Mixed acoustics in the arena indicate a shift intended to quell any potential booing directed at Israeli acts or pro-Palestinian sentiments. Just before the contest, clashes occurred between pro-Palestinian demonstrators and police in Basel, emphasizing the heightened tensions surrounding the event. Spence expressed that had Kan won, the backlash could have fostered a significant disengagement from the Eurovision community and its supporters.
With the EBU under scrutiny following the prolonged debates regarding the voting system, the future of Eurovision remains uncertain as it navigates these complex political landscapes.
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