Slovenia Thinks to withdraw from Eurovision due to Israeli participation

After Belgian and Spanish radio and television demanded greater transparency in connection with this year's Eurovision vote, which they believe is no longer apolitical and unifying one, and for this inappropriate reason, Slovenia's Television expressed similar stance.

“as director of Slovenia's Television, once again addresss with serious and growing concerns about the continuation of Israel's participation in the EBU events, especially at the Eurovision Song Festival”, writes Ksenija Horvat in the letter sent by Slovenia's TV management to members of the EBU executive board.

She added that she has called attention to this topic last year, citing numerous objections at that time, which, according to her, have since intensified.

“As a public media responsible to the public, Slovenian television is under increased pressure to respond to such concerns. If the EBU does not take concrete steps and expresses its position on these issues, we will consider our participation in future Eurovision events”, Horvat said.

She stressed that this was not a decision that would be taken lightly, and added that Slovenia's Television would be “due to” make such a move if “The EBU continues to avoid responding to major issues, both from an ethical point of view and from a view of public interest”.

Horvat called on the EBU to call on “an open, comprehensive and urgent debate among its members, including musical performers and civil society representatives, on the transparency of voting, participation policies and ensuring the sustainable and reliable implementation of values for which the EBU” is engaged.

It referred to the telephone vote in this year's Eurovision song, which “further maintained public confidence”, adding that the previous EBU response “did not contain convincing or concrete clarification”, nor did it preserve the urgency and seriousness of the put-up question.

“Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories has deteriorated further, and the public's concern, both in Slovenia and across Europe, has significantly increased”, Horat writes, adding:

Many viewers in Slovenia and elsewhere expressed serious doubts about the credibility and transparency of the vote, especially in the political context surrounding the race. The feeling that political interests may have influenced the turnout decisions or the final results of the vote undermined public confidence in EBU's impartiality”.

She also voiced doubts about the transparency of the telephone vote at Eurovision.

“We are particularly interested in comparing phone votes with those via the internet, as we believe this is essential to restore confidence in the integrity of the voting process. As public media, we have a duty to provide our audience with accurate and verifiable information”, Horvat wrote, stating he doesn't understand why there is so much secrecy about these procedures.