Eurovision Bosses Respond After Various National Broadcasters Raise Concerns About Vote Rigging

Austrian singer JJ celebrating his Eurovision win in Basel, Switzerland on Saturday nightEven days after the live final, this year’s Eurovision Song Contest continues to find itself at the centre of more controversy.On Saturday night, Austrian performer JJ became the latest singer to be crowned Eurovision champion, ahead of Israel’s Yuval Raphael, who was this year’s runner-up.However, the Israeli act secured the most points overall in the televoting, which is now coming under scrutiny from several competing countries.The national broadcasters for both Spain and Belgium (RTVE and VRT, respectively) have since raised concerns over vote rigging with Eurovision organisers the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).RTVE is now calling for an investigation into this year’s Spanish Eurovision vote – which allows viewers to vote up to 20 times over the phone or via text – after both Spain and Belgium’s televoting gave the Israeli act the maximum points, while their juries, watching in Basel, each awarded Yuval a score of zero.Belgian politician Katia Segers also said (as reported by The Standard): “A system in which everyone can cast up to 20 votes is a system that encourages manipulation.“Whether this manipulation occurred in our country and all other participating and non-participating countries must be investigated.”She added that the Flemish broadcaster “must take the lead in requesting this investigation” as well as “holding the debate on the televoting system within the EBU” and “Israel’s participation” more generally, which has already become a contentious issue in recent years.Yuval Raphael pictured on stage in BaselMeanwhile, Irish publication The Journal noted that Ireland’s broadcaster RTÉ has “requested a breakdown in voting numbers from the EBU”.A spokesperson for Finland’s Yle also said: “We will definitely ask the EBU whether it is time to update these rules or at least examine whether the current rules allow for abuses.”Eurovision director Martin Green has confirmed that bosses have ”been in touch with several broadcasters since Saturday’s Grand Final regarding voting in the competition”.He continued (via The Standard): “It is important to emphasise that the voting operation for the Eurovision Song Contest is the most advanced in the world and each country’s result is checked and verified by a huge team of people to exclude any suspicious or irregular voting patterns.“An independent compliance monitor reviews both jury and public vote data to ensure we have a valid result. Our voting partner Once has confirmed that a valid vote was recorded in all countries participating in this year’s Grand Final and in the Rest of the World.”In the lead-up to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest, representatives for several countries’ national broadcasters, including Spain and Ireland, raised questions with the EBU about whether Israel should continue to be part of the competition despite the ongoing conflict in Gaza.The EBU said that discussions would be held with each competing country’s broadcaster about a variety of issues relating to this year’s contest – but only once the final was over.Martin Green also said earlier this week (per The Journal): “Now the event has concluded we will have a broad discussion with participating broadcasters, to reflect and obtain feedback on all aspects of this year’s event as part of our planning process for the 70th Eurovision Song Contest next year.”MORE EUROVISION:Eurovision Speaks Out Amid Outcry Over Viral Clip Of Security's 'Aggression' Towards Protester

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