The Eurovision Song Contest is again under pressure over Israel’s participation, but this year attention is also turning to changes in the competition’s public voting system.
Eurovision has long been known for passionate fan support, political tensions and neighbourly voting patterns. However, organisers said they wanted to prevent what they described as “disproportionate” promotional activity linked to entries.
Last year, Israel’s entry received most of its points from viewers rather than professional juries. The country finished second overall, with public support playing a major role in the result. Around the same time, social media posts linked to Israel’s foreign ministry encouraged supporters to vote multiple times for the Israeli singer.
Eurovision Director Martin Green said organisers felt some promotional efforts had crossed a line and did not reflect the spirit of the contest. While he did not directly name Israel, he confirmed new measures had been introduced in response to concerns raised after the event.
One of the main changes limits viewers to 10 votes per payment method, down from 20 previously. Organisers also say they are introducing extra safeguards to reduce the risk of abuse or manipulation.
The issue resurfaced this week after Israel’s broadcaster KAN received a formal warning over online videos connected to this year’s entrant, Noam Bettan. In the clips, viewers were encouraged to vote 10 times for Israel. The EBU said direct calls for multiple votes were not in line with the competition’s rules.
KAN said it complies with Eurovision regulations and described the videos as an independent initiative by people close to the artist rather than an official campaign.
Martin Green defended the broader practice of countries encouraging support from fans abroad, including diaspora communities. He compared Eurovision to an international sporting event, saying public backing is a normal part of the competition.
Even with the rule changes, viewers can still cast votes using different payment methods, online, by text message and by phone call, meaning one person could still submit 30 votes overall.
Experts say no voting system is completely immune from attempts to influence results.
The song contest begins 9pm (CET) 12 May until Saturday 16 May.
Russia's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova praised Georgia for resisting Western pressure (30 May), defending its national interests and pu...
More than 1,500 pages of government documents relating to Peter Mandelson's appointment and tenure as UK ambassador to the U.S. have been published, r...
As Armenia approaches parliamentary elections, Russia appears to be increasing political and economic pressure on Yerevan, signalling that closer inte...
Afghanistan’s consul general in Mashhad and the governor of Iran’s Khorasan Razavi province have discussed expanding trade, improving border trans...
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has withdrawn the appointment of a senior U.S. official to a top leadership role because of delays in U.S....
As Armenia approaches parliamentary elections, Russia appears to be increasing political and economic pressure on Yerevan, signalling that closer integration with the EU could lead to significant changes in labour, transport and energy arrangements between the two countries.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) has withdrawn the appointment of a senior U.S. official to a top leadership role because of delays in U.S. payments, according to a statement published on Monday (1 June).
Turkish authorities have launched an investigation into a passenger bus crash in southwestern Türkiye that killed eight people and injured 33 others over the weekend.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
Okinawa lost transport links and suffered widespread power outages on Monday (1 June) as Severe Tropical Storm Jangmi brought destructive winds and heavy rain to Japan's south-western islands.
Iranian-made Yassin missiles were spotted mounted on Armenian Air Force fighter aircraft during Armenia's latest military parade on Thursday (28 May), drawing attention from defence observers and regional analysts.
Donald Trump said he is “in no hurry” to reach a deal with Iran, insisting the U.S. is slowly getting what it wants. He warned military action remains an option if talks fail. Meanwhile, U.S. forces said they fired a missile at a vessel trying to breach Washington’s blockade of Iran.
The World Health Organisation’s designation of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus outbreak as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) is a stark reminder that Ebola remains a persistent global health threat rather than a disease of the past.
U.S. rapper Kanye West, now known as Ye, performed to a crowd of 118,000 people in Istanbul on Saturday night, marking his first concert in Europe in more than a decade, despite being barred from performing in several countries over past antisemitic remarks.
A centuries-old floral tradition is being prepared in the English village of Castleton, where the Garland King will lead a ceremonial procession through the Peak District wearing a large flower-covered structure weighing up to 40 kilograms.
The trial of a 21-year-old accused of planning an Islamist attack at a Taylor Swift concert in Vienna entered its final day on Thursday (28 May), with a verdict expected later in the evening.
Thousands of visitors flocked to Hong Kong’s Cheung Chau island on Sunday for the annual Bun Festival, as crowds gathered to watch the famous “floating children” parade and prepare for the traditional midnight bun-scrambling competition.
Spanish police in Catalonia have detained Jonathan Andic, the son of Mango fashion group founder Isak Andic, as part of an ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding his father’s death in December 2024, authorities said.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment