Bulgaria has won the Eurovision Song Contest in Austria, although in a less celebratory atmosphere than usual as excitement surrounding the contest have been at their lowest levels in years after several European countries boycotted the competition over Israel’s participation. There were widespread calls across Europe to boycott this year’s Eurovision Song Contest because of Israel’s war crimes in Gaza.
The countries that boycotted the contest were Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Iceland. Several broadcasters and artists across Europe had also called on the European Broadcasting Union to exclude Israel from the competition, similarly to how Russia had previously been excluded following its invasion of Ukraine.
Viewership of the Eurovision Song Contest fell sharply in several major European countries, with reports indicating significant declines in Spain, Italy and France (10-15%), while audiences reportedly dropped even more heavily in Belgium, the United Kingdom and Sweden (15-40%) amid the boycott.
Bulgaria won the contest for the first time with singer DARA performing the song Bangaranga, receiving a total of 516 points. Israel came in second place with singer Noam Bettan and the song Michelle, despite boos from sections of the audience during the voting process.
Malta, represented by Aidan Cassar with the song Bella, finished in 18th place.
This year’s Eurovision became one of the most politically controversial editions in the contest’s history, with the war in Gaza overshadowing much of the event and triggering the largest coordinated boycott Eurovision has faced in decades. The European Broadcasting Union is being accused of having applied double standards by excluding Russia while continuing to allow Israel to participate.
Newsroom
Leave a Reply