Eurovision Faces Internal Division Following Rule Changes & Israel Participation Debate
The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) has implemented changes to the Eurovision Song Contest voting system following a contentious General Assembly, aiming to ”continue professionally and strengthen the integrity and international credibility of this contest.” The changes come amidst significant internal disagreement, largely fueled by debate surrounding Israel’s participation in the 2024 competition.
A key alteration approved by a majority of broadcasters limits the impact of concentrated voting campaigns, both from third parties and national governments. Specifically, the maximum number of votes allowed per voting method – call, text message, or online – has been reduced from 20 to 10. Furthermore, a jury of music experts will be reinstated for the semi-finals, resulting in a 50/50 split between jury and audience votes in determining semi-final results. The vote on these new rules passed with 738 votes in favor, 264 against, and 120 blank ballots.
Despite the rule changes, a clear division exists amongst EBU members. Experts suggest the dispute over Israel’s participation has triggered a serious crisis within the institution. Dean Vuletičs, author of “Postwar Europe and the Eurovision Song Contest,” described the situation to Deutsche Welle as the “most serious crisis in the history of the Eurovision Song Contest,” noting a lack of consensus seen previously in decisions regarding the exclusion of Belarus in 2021 and Russia in 2022. He highlighted the opposing viewpoints regarding Israel,even amongst broadcasters from European Union member states.
LSM board chairwoman, Līga Zūzena, while acknowledging the differing opinions, refrained from characterizing the situation as a crisis for the contest itself. She noted that during the General Assembly, representatives emphasized the importance of the EBU’s unity and the role of public media in addressing internationally sensitive issues. Zūzena confirmed that several countries expressed concerns about continuing thier participation,while others indicated a willingness to return.
Moldova, romania, and Bulgaria are reportedly considering a return to the competition, perhaps bringing the total number of participating countries to 35 for next year’s event. The deadline for participation confirmation is December 10th. Several countries remain undecided, with Iceland planning to review its participation next week and Finland conditioning its involvement on sufficient participation numbers and manageable costs.
