Bakel Walden Reflects on Eurovision 2024 Amid Controversies and Challenges
Bakel Walden, Chairperson of the Eurovision Song Contest Reference Group, has shared his perspective on the events of the 2024 contest. This year’s competition, held in Malmö, Sweden, was notable not only for its musical performances but also for several controversies that overshadowed the event.
A Turbulent Year in Malmö
The Eurovision Song Contest 2024 was marked by Switzerland’s victory, with Nemo becoming the first non-binary winner with «The Code.» However, the event also faced numerous controversies, including the disqualification of Joost Klein and debates surrounding Israel’s participation.
Bakel Walden, besides his role in the Reference Group, is a member of the Board of Directors of SRG, the Swiss national broadcaster, and will be heavily involved in organizing Eurovision 2025 in Switzerland. Reflecting on 2024, Walden admitted that it was a challenging year for the contest.
«This was my first year as chairman, so I only have a limited period for comparison. But many of my colleagues, who have been there for a long time, spoke of a historically difficult ESC. And I believe them after the last few weeks and days,» said Walden.
Highlights and Challenges
Despite the difficulties, Walden emphasized that there were many positives at this year’s contest. «It was an incredibly intense time, with many highlights in the preparation, but also with a lot of pressure for everyone involved in the production. Above all, the joy and gratitude that this year’s three shows thrilled millions of people now predominate,» he commented.
In an unexpected twist, Walden had the honor of formally offering Nemo and Switzerland the right to host Eurovision 2025 during the winners’ press conference, a task usually performed by the Executive Supervisor, Martin Österdahl, who was not present.
Controversies and Difficult Decisions
One of the most notable controversies this year was the disqualification of Joost Klein and the Netherlands from the contest due to an incident involving a female production team member. This decision led to boos in the arena and public condemnation from the Dutch broadcaster AVROTROS. However, Walden firmly defended the decision: «The decision was correct: there was unacceptable behavior towards a production employee. If there are over 1,000 people in a production who want to work safely, there must not only be clear rules of conduct, but they must also be implemented consistently. And that is what the responsible EBU members did.»
Walden also addressed the controversial inclusion of Israel in the contest. He stated that «everything conformed to the rules» for Israel’s entry, and that many participants were concerned about hateful comments on social media regarding Israel’s involvement.
Looking Ahead
Looking forward to Eurovision 2025, Walden will be deeply involved in the contest’s production, which will be held in his home country, Switzerland. Although only a few days have passed since Switzerland’s victory, Walden stated that preparations are already underway: «There are many topics already being discussed. Our supervisory board will meet again in a few weeks. The ESC 2025 has already begun behind the scenes.»
Additionally, Walden anticipates that the host city for Eurovision 2025 will be announced sometime during the summer: «Preparations for the so-called ‘City Bid’ are underway. The city is expected to be announced in the summer. The ESC is a huge opportunity for the venue, so a fair and well-prepared approach is needed.»
Eurovision 2025 promises to be an exciting and challenging event, with new opportunities to reaffirm the inclusive and diverse spirit of the contest, despite the controversies and political challenges that may arise.
