RTVE Calls for Eurovision Reality Check: Spain Demands Debate on Israel and a ‘Sympathy-Proof’ Voting System
While most broadcasters were still admiring each other’s lanyards at the 94th EBU General Assembly, RTVE decided to cut straight to the encore. Spain’s public broadcaster asked the room to hit pause on the glitter and open a “serious, in-depth debate” about Israel’s place in Eurovision 2026—plus a hard reboot of the contest’s voting mechanics.
When the warm-up act steals the show
First to the microphone was Alfonso Morales, RTVE’s Secretary-General, who politely reminded delegates that Eurovision was invented for tune-swapping, not sabre-rattling. Israel’s presence, advirtió Morales, has nudged the spotlight away from key changes and towards foreign policy: less “Waterloo”, more Waterloo Road.
Spain’s motion:
- Debate Israel’s participation before December’s winter assembly, rather than pretending the pyro will hide the elephant on stage.
- Overhaul the voting system so that geopolitics (and convenient wartime sympathies) don’t trump actual musical merit.
Backing singers—or boos—from across Europe
RTVE’s request quickly gained harmony from several other delegations—only too aware that televotes have begun to resemble a UN roll-call. Behind closed doors, one Nordic delegate was overheard quipping: “If we wanted boundary disputes, we’d watch the news, not the green room.” Quite.
Sympathy votes and strategic ballads
Under Spain’s proposal, the EBU would dilute or recalibrate televoting tallies that spike because a country is mid-conflict. (Morales stopped short of proposing an automatic disqualification for power ballads titled “Ceasefire of Love”—but give it time.)
Deadlines and dancing on eggshells
The EBU must return with a plan before the December assembly, neatly avoiding both premature outrage and unfashionably late clarity. Should Israel remain in the contest, Vienna or Innsbruck might well have to install a second press centre—one for journalists, another for diplomats.
A British note of irony
Eurovision once promised to unite Europe with catchy tunes and questionable choreography. These days, it may need a side-order of the Vienna Convention. Still, there’s comfort in knowing that, even amid global crises, we can rely on a sparkly stage and a key change at the two-minute mark to restore a sense of order—however temporary.
Stay tuned: by winter we’ll know whether Eurovision 2026 will feature twelve points, political points, or points deducted for diplomatic discourtesy. In the meantime, keep your glitter dry.
Source: RTVE
