Spanish broadcaster calls for Eurovision audit over voting row
The Spanish broadcaster RTVE has requested a detailed audit of the Eurovision voting results. The reason is discrepancies concerning the votes for the Israeli representative. This conflict with the EBU may lead to significant repercussions.
Key information
- The Spanish broadcaster RTVE has requested an audit of the votes cast during Eurovision.
- The discrepancies concern the vote for the Israeli representative, Yuval Raphael.
- RTVE has previously criticised Israel's participation in the contest for political reasons.
The Spanish public broadcaster RTVE has found itself in conflict with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) after this year's Eurovision event. The dispute arose due to discrepancies in the voting results for the Israeli contestant, Yuval Raphael. The Spanish jury did not award her any points, while the Spanish viewers gave her the highest score.
RTVE has requested a detailed audit of the public votes. The report from the EBU did not meet the expectations of the Spanish broadcaster, as it lacked a country-by-country vote breakdown. RTVE has announced further actions regarding this matter.
The Spanish public broadcaster demands a Eurovision audit over votes for Israel
The voting issue is not the only point of contention. RTVE has previously criticised Israel's participation in the contest, citing the political situation in the Gaza Strip. It even called for a debate on excluding Israel from Eurovision, a position supported by Iceland and Ireland.
The Israeli broadcaster KAN accused RTVE of politicising the contest, prompting a response from the EBU. Eurovision organisers reminded all involved that the festival is apolitical and warned of financial penalties if references to the Gaza Strip conflict are made during the final.
The dispute between RTVE and the EBU may have broader implications. Other countries are also considering approaching the EBU for a voting audit, which could affect future editions of the contest.
