What esctoday.com already feared has now been confirmed. Due to a strike of the employees at RTBF, Belgium's French speaking broadcaster, the decision whether to organise a national final or an internal selection has been delayed for at least one week.
Last Monday, Leslie Cable, Head of the RTBF delegation for Kiev informed esctoday.com that the final decision would be taken tomorrow, after the last selection auditions had taken place. In case there would have been chosen for a national final, this one would have taken place on 27th February.
But,… last Monday as well, the first actions of RTBF employees against new regulations took place. More and more employees have gone on strike by now and RTBF's television channels La Une and La 2 are broadcasting a minimum of programmes. Also RTBF's radio channels have joined the action and a website explaining their actions has been opened: www.rtbfengreve.be
As a result, the last auditions as well as the decision whether to organise a national final or an internal selection have been delayed. “At least by one week,” told Leslie Cable to eurosong.be. Belgium's French speaking broadcaster has been facing several social conflicts in the past and actions like these are no rarity in Wallonia.
