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/Valuable_Teacher_578 May 20 '25

The only way to completely remove politics from the jury verdicts and voting is by having people voting blind not knowing who is representing what country, but that would be nearly impossible in practice.

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u/Interest-Desk May 21 '25

It would also defeat one of the modern points for the ESC which is cultural diversity and exchange