Eurovision faces pressure from EU lawmakers over 'rigged' televoting

Published connected 05/06/2025 - 18:05 GMT+2•Updated 19:25

Just complete 2 weeks aft nan conclusion of nan 2025 Eurovision Song Contest, contention complete nan integrity of televoting continues to mount.

A group of 12 MEPs from socialist, leftist, greenish and wide groups has written to nan apical brass of nan European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which organises nan contest, expressing "renewed apprehension regarding expanding concerns of irregularities tied to nan 2025 contest" successful a missive seen by Euronews.

Their entreaty follows a activity of interest from nationalist broadcasters, including nan Netherlands' AVROTROS/NPO, Norway's NRK, Spain's RTVE, Slovenia's RTVSLO, Iceland's RÚV, Belgium's Flemish VRT and Finland's Yle.

The broadcasters cited suspicions of televoting manipulation and questioned nan domiciled of state-backed promotion, peculiarly involving this year's runner-up successful nan contest, Israel’s entry, which reportedly benefited from campaigns pursued by nan Israeli Government Advertising Agency (Lapam).

Irish broadcaster RTÉ has formally requested entree to nan voting data, while VRT publically questioned whether it will proceed participating successful nan title if afloat transparency is not ensured.

"While nan Eurovision Song Contest is meant to merge Europe done euphony and culture, caller developments person formed a protector complete its credibility and neutrality," Slovenian MEP Matjaž Nemec, who initiated nan letter, told Euronews.

Nemec criticised nan engagement of nationalist governments successful promoting their acts, calling it a breach of nan EBU's principles of fairness, impartiality and independence.

The missive cites information from VRT revealing important and unexplained discrepancies betwixt spectator numbers and televoting information during nan 2023–2025 contests.

"These trends are not easy explained by integrated fluctuations successful spectator enthusiasm and warrant further scrutiny," nan missive reads, informing that nan expanding number of broadcasters questioning their ain information points to a deeper, systemic issue.

"This is not an isolated concern: it signals a broader problem that must beryllium addressed," Nemec said.

The MEPs person called connected nan EBU to return circumstantial actions, including releasing complete voting data, authorising an independent audit, and enforcing safeguards to forestall governmental interference successful nan contest.

"Without answers and accountability, Eurovision risks losing nan spot of its assemblage and becoming a shape not for unity, but for manipulation," Nemec warned, adding that nan European nationalist deserves afloat transparency connected this year’s voting process.

Eurovision Song Contest head Martin Green has issued an unfastened missive addressing concerns astir transparency and nan integrity of nan voting process.

Green acknowledged nan issues raised by broadcasters and confirmed that they would beryllium discussed astatine nan upcoming EBU Reference Group meeting.

He noted that while promotional efforts by participating countries are permitted and communal successful nan euphony industry, nan EBU is reviewing whether specified campaigns could unduly power nationalist voting.

He besides pointed retired that Eurovision’s voting strategy incorporates "multiple information layers" and is overseen by complete 60 professionals crossed Cologne, Vienna and Amsterdam, while nan voting is managed by Once Germany GmbH and independently verified by EY (Ernst & Young).

Regarding nan existent norm limiting votes to 20 per costs method per person, Green stated that location is nary grounds this affects nan results. Nonetheless, nan rumor will beryllium re-examined arsenic portion of nan post-contest reappraisal process.