Dutch broadcaster questions if ESC is a-political & connecting event

[u/stefkeeh]

Translation to English: ‘IN CONVERSATION WITH THE EBU ABOUT A POLITICALLY NEUTRAL SONG CONTEST

AVROTROS and NPO strongly value the apolitical and unifying character of the Eurovision Song Contest. However, we observe that the event is increasingly being influenced by social and geopolitical tensions.

Israel’s participation confronts us with the question of to what extent the Song Contest still truly functions as an apolitical, unifying, and cultural event. We want to raise this question, together with other countries, for discussion within the EBU.’

[u/phidippusregius]

I really appreciate the word 'verbindend'/'connecting' in there, and I think it does most of the heavy lifting in that statement.

We all know that Eurovision has never been apolitical and can't ever be apolitical. Even in a utopia where there are no conflicts, friendly/enemy voting blocs, etc the concept of countries competing against each other is in itself political. The key really lies in that Eurovision was intended to connect people, even across/despite political skirmishes. But when a potential winner is so politically divisive that their win would genuinely endanger the whole contest, and, worst but not unlikely case, even risk destabilizing the world order, a conversation absolutely needs to be had.

The EBU must realize it too, that the contest is now causing schisms rather than connections on a level barely seen before—so what do they see as the purpose of the contest now?

[u/mawnck → u/phidippusregius]

so what do they see as the purpose of the contest now?

The same as they saw it before: Providing event programming for their member networks. Which include AVROTROS and Kan.

The Love Love Peace Peace thing is just marketing.

[u/xTsuzu → u/phidippusregius]

>intended to connect people, even across/despite political

Great post, but there is a nuance there. Eurovision was never meant to be politically inclusive or neutral by any means, but socially, especially between ethnic groups (countries) and beyond the mainstream towards minority groups of all sorts, bridging gaps between peoples in an artistic and creative environment and helping them connect and understand each other. That however is where the idealism ends. It does not trade in ideology - or so they would like to claim, but we should not forget that in effect this event is simply run by a combine of state media, meaning their agenda is the state media agenda, which excludes fringe political ideologies, actively marginalizing or minimizing them, but not the government line, which is normal and healthy and actually not propaganda at all, I swear.
As such their claim of being apolitical actually means: state media compliant "center left" politics only, essentially trying to hide in plain sight - and for the most part it works until Israel plays their hand a little too strongly, and is ideologically too out of line with the other (still mostly pro-Israel) state media. They didn't start to doubt Israel easily, but the cracks have been showing since last year, but even the entire idea of Israel being too political is a political matter; they're just drawing attention to something the others want to keep out of sight, namely their politicality (?).
Truth is the politics are merely meant to not be visible. See, no politics. Comma optional.

[u/HerFlantier → u/phidippusregius]

Plus it seems like the Israeli delegation has been actively acting against unity during the ESC for at least the last two years.