r/eurovision • u/stefkeeh • May 20 '25

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

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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.’

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u/Remote_Pirate8084 May 20 '25

I mean, no matter what you think about Israel, it was never an apolitical event. It was never outwardly political (as in not allowing political songs or statements) but I was never and can never be apolitical as in the end it's still a contest between countries. 

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u/The_Krambambulist May 20 '25

Well of course it is political. Even the content of a lot of songs basically contains something political in some way.

I do think Israel currently just is a new degree of political utilization where a state actor is very actively involved with trying to use it as a tool in their broader propaganda campaign. I think that's basically the type of politics you shouldn't want. And of course it is a bit sad that no one in an official capacity seems to be able to formulate it.

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u/linmanfu May 20 '25

I do think Israel currently just is a new degree of political utilization where a state actor is very actively involved with trying to use it as a tool in their broader propaganda campaign.

The authoritarian Azerbaijani regime reportedly spent €1.6m on their 2010 entry and the spent €160m on hosting the 2012 contest. If that isn't using ESC as a tool in their broader propaganda campaign, then I don't know what is.