Drama at the European Broadcasting Union: In a surprising legal hearing, Eurovision’s chief supervisor reveals his end date. What prompted Martin Österdahl’s announcement and what lies behind this unexpected statement?
Photo: Sören Vilks
Amid ongoing political disputes, public criticism, and media controversies surrounding the management of the Eurovision Song Contest, a personal front in the life of Martin Österdahl, the contest’s chief supervisor, was revealed this week. In the midst of a legal battle over his private apartment in Stockholm, the high-ranking Eurovision official made a rare statement: “My work with Eurovision will end next spring, and then I plan to return to live in Sweden.”
This declaration, made during a hearing at the Rent Tribunal, comes in the context of a widely publicized legal dispute regarding his Stockholm apartment—a conflict that concluded this week with a decisive ruling requiring Österdahl to vacate the property permanently.
A Luxury Apartment, Unusual Contract, and an Unkept Promise
The story began years ago, when Österdahl, despite not residing in Sweden, held an unusual rental contract for a 52-square-meter apartment in a central area of the capital. The agreement included a rare option to sublet, with the possibility of transferring the lease to his wife or children in the future, and the right to return at any time—a virtually unprecedented privilege in Sweden’s tough rental market.
Although he spent most of his time abroad due to his role at the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), Österdahl clarified during the trial that he intends to return to Sweden with his family after his term concludes in spring 2026. He stated that the family plans to sell their villa in the Nacka suburb and move into the apartment he held.
The Court Was Not Convinced: “The Villa Negates the Need for a City Apartment”
The court was not persuaded by these arguments. The judges ruled that Österdahl’s ownership of an active villa contradicted his claim of a genuine need for a rental apartment in the city center. The court further determined that the tenants demonstrated a real need to use the apartment—either for other purposes or to rent to someone in need of genuine housing, rather than keeping it as a “reserve property” for a public figure.
During the hearing, Österdahl argued: “It doesn’t matter that I currently live and work in Switzerland—my role ends next spring, so I intend to return to Sweden. We plan to sell the villa and move into this apartment with my wife and child.”
However, the judges ruled that a future statement about intentions, unsupported by concrete actions, could not outweigh the tenants’ immediate need to use the apartment.
The Man Behind Major Decisions—Now Subject to a Personal Ruling
Martin Österdahl, who last year faced unprecedented public criticism over the disqualification of Joost Klein from Eurovision and was heavily booed on stage due to Israel’s participation, now finds himself in a completely different arena—one where he no longer makes the decisions.
The Rent Tribunal sided with the tenants, ruled that the contract be voided, and ordered Österdahl to vacate the apartment. In many ways, this is not just a ruling about a real estate asset, but a significant milestone for the man who led Europe’s biggest production: this time, he is not the one directing the script.
Source: hemhyra
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