Despite claims of being apolitical, year after year the Eurovision song contest never fails to disappoint political aficionados. As part of this year’s dedicated coverage, EURACTIV presents its selection from its archives of instances that highlight the special place this pan-European musical extravaganza holds in the continent’s political identity formation.
With Russia banned from participating and Ukraine’s folk-rap hit considered frontrunner by the bookies, the 2022 edition of the Eurovision is promising to be a highly politicised event.
Below, EURACTIV offers its take of five news from the past decade that showcase why even a policy-focused media cannot ignore the one of the all-time most-watched entertainment franchises.
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Germany’s Eurovision debacle ‘obviously political’, commentators say
Germans lamented their unexpectedly poor showing at the Eurovision Song Contest, blaming Chancellor Angela Merkel's tough stance in the eurozone crisis for their failure to win any points from 34 of the 39 countries voting.
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Ukraine-Russia conflict engulfs Eurovision song contest
The host of this year’s Eurovision song contest, Ukraine, has banned Russia’s entry from the country after it emerged that she performed in Crimea back in 2015.
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Italian Eurovision winner returns negative test after drug furore
Damiano David, the flamboyant singer for Italy’s Eurovision-winning rockers Maneskin, tested negative for drugs, the contest organisers said Monday (25 May), following a furore over speculation he snorted cocaine at the final.
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Hungarian media deny claims that Eurovision 2020 is ‘too gay’
Hungary will not take part in Eurovision 2020, the annual song contest that will take place in Rotterdam next year. Reports have emerged that the reason was the high number of LGBTQ+ participants, which goes going against the conservative views of Viktor Orbán’s government.
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Eurovision sparks more tension between Sofia, Skopje
The Eurovision song contest has further increased tensions between Bulgaria and North Macedonia. Sofia expressed “bewilderment” at the hate speech campaign taking place in North Macedonia against the country’s own Eurovision 2021 contender, Vasil Garvanliev. After announcing publicly his Bulgarian …
Source: euractiv.com
