RTVE’s President Jose Pablo Lopez, has defended Spain’s decision to withdraw from the forthcoming Eurovision Song Contest 2026 if Israel participates, at the Spanish Congress earlier today. He has shed more light on the matter and commented on RTVE’s role in the EBU.
Earlier this month the Spanish national broadcaster, RTVE, issued a statement stating that Spain would withdraw from ESC 2026 if Israel was not excluded, given the current geopolitcal scenario in the Middle East and the ongoing war in Gaza.
Jose Pablo Lopez (RTVE’s President) has convened at the Spanish Parlimentary Oversight Commission in the Congress where he has spoken about the Eurovision Song Contest, RTVE’s role within the EBU and Spain’s decision to withdraw from the contest if Israel is allowed to compete in Vienna.
RTVE’s press release reads:
This Thursday, in Congress, RTVE ‘s President José Pablo López defended the Corporation’s Board of Directors’ recent decision to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel competes.
Jose Pablo Lopez says:
It was time to break the silence within the EBU regarding the genocide in Gaza, that the damage that the current EBU management is causing to the contest is immense. Withdrawing is not a pleasant decision. Spain is one of the countries with the highest following of the festival, but this takes a backseat compared to the massacre in Gaza.It pains me greatly not to broadcast it, but there are issues that are above entertainment. It’s a decision that has to do with human rights.
Jose Pablo Lopez continues to comment:
Not only are we part of the EBU, but we also chair the Eurovision Reference Group and are also the core of the EBU within the so-called Big Five. It is clear that we have joint responsibility for the decisions made at Eurovision and regarding the internal governance of the EBU.
Jose Pablo Lopez goes to say:
We are all aware that the Eurovision Song Contest is not a mere song contest. Its political weight is enormous.It is the most politicized contest in existence. We all know this, and Israel knows it too, and that is why it is being used politically. That is why it is likely to win in Vienna. As the Chair of the Reference Group, we have proposed numerous alternatives to the EBU to resolve this situation, but it does not consider it appropriate to take any measures; we will continue working to ensure a decision is made before the December Assembly.
