Meinl-Reisinger on ESC Boycott: "Exclusion Does Not Alleviate Any Crisis"
Ireland, Slovenia, Spain, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Belgium have announced or are considering boycotting the 2026 ESC in Vienna if Israel participates. This step would "make it impossible for an important dialogue between artists and the public - without improving the situation on the ground in Israel and Gaza," according to a letter that Foreign Minister Beate Meinl-Reisinger (NEOS) has now sent to her counterparts in these countries.
Meinl-Reisinger appeals: ESC boycott would not alleviate crisis
As the Foreign Minister of the host country, she is "deeply concerned about the risk of division among the members of the European Broadcasting Union on this issue," wrote Meinl-Reisinger. Political developments, especially those associated with conflicts and humanitarian suffering, should not be ignored. However, she is firmly convinced "that the Eurovision Song Contest in particular - and art in general - are not suitable for sanctions," said the Foreign Minister. Such debates belong in established political forums.
An exclusion of Israel from the Eurovision Song Contest or a boycott of the event would neither alleviate the humanitarian crisis in Gaza nor contribute to a sustainable political solution, the letter continues. And: "Our efforts should instead focus on ensuring respect for international law and working together towards lasting peace."
Song Contest as a symbol of peace and unity
Austria is proud to host the Eurovision Song Contest 2026 in Vienna: "Over the past decades, the Eurovision Song Contest has developed into far more than just a music competition: It is a symbol of peace, unity, and cultural exchange." History has shown that art and culture can serve as catalysts for dialogue, mutual understanding, and even reconciliation, emphasized Meinl-Reisinger in the letter. She is confident "that a balanced solution can be found."
German Minister of State for Culture: ESC not a tribunal
The Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer, has meanwhile criticized the boycott threatened by some countries. That is "Cancel Culture." The ESC was founded to bring countries together, Weimer said on Saturday. "Anyone who excludes Israel today turns this fundamental idea on its head and turns a festival of understanding into a tribunal." The idea of the ESC is to judge artists by their art, not by their nationality, he emphasized. "Precisely because the ESC was born from the ruins of war, it must not become a stage for exclusion."
Exclusions from the competition for political reasons have repeatedly occurred at the ESC in the past. For example, Russia is no longer allowed to participate due to the Russian attack on Ukraine. In the 1990s, it affected Serbia.
Moscow's Counter-Event to the ESC
A Russian counter-event to the ESC began on Saturday in Moscow with a message from President Vladimir Putin. For all countries, it is about free development, about preserving their identity, said the Kremlin chief. "Respect for traditional values and the diversity of cultures is the fundamental idea of the competition and inspires participants to reach artistic heights." There will be "no perversions and mockeries of human nature," said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, referring to the liberal and queer-friendly ESC.
The musical competition with 23 countries takes place, according to the organizers, in front of about 11,000 spectators in the Moscow concert hall Live Arena. Russia's state First Channel broadcasts the approximately three-and-a-half-hour show. The winning song will be decided by an international jury composed of the participating countries.
The participating countries include former Soviet republics such as Belarus, Kazakhstan, or Uzbekistan, as well as countries friendly to Russia in the BRICS group like China, India, Brazil, and South Africa.
(APA/Red)
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.