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Eurovision Faces Scrutiny Over Voting Integrity After Israel's Controversial Televote Win

Calls for an investigation intensify as Spain, Belgium, and others challenge the voting system and Israel's participation amid geopolitical tensions.

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during the 34th Arab League summit, in Baghdad, Iraq, May 17, 2025.     Hadi Mizban/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
Yuval Raphael from Israel performed New Day Will Rise in the Grand Final of Eurovision 2025 in Basel, Switzerland. (©EBU/Alma Bengtsson)

Overview

  • Israeli contestant Yuval Raphael won the public televote at Eurovision 2025 but placed second overall after jury votes favored Austria's JJ.
  • Spain and Belgium's public broadcasters have formally requested an audit of Eurovision's televoting process, citing concerns over potential manipulation and transparency issues.
  • Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has called for Israel's exclusion from international cultural events, likening its situation to Russia's ban after the Ukraine invasion.
  • Protests disrupted Israel's performance during the contest, with pro-Palestinian demonstrators attempting to storm the stage and raising concerns about Eurovision's claim of neutrality.
  • The European Broadcasting Union defends the voting system as advanced and independently monitored but faces growing demands for reform and greater transparency from several participant nations.