The controversy surrounding Israel’s participation in the competition is breaking records. Why is Slovenia warning that it will withdraw from Eurovision – and what does it have to do with voting for Israel?
The Slovenian national broadcaster, RTVSLO, has announced that unless the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) takes concrete steps to address ethical and transparency questions surrounding the Eurovision 2025 voting process, it will seriously reconsider its continued participation in EBU events, including Eurovision. This warning was issued in an official letter sent to EBU management by Ksenija Horvat, CEO of the Slovenian national broadcaster, and made public alongside similar appeals from Belgian and Spanish broadcasters.
Direct Criticism of Israel’s Participation: “This Appeal Is Not New”
In her letter, Ksenija Horvat wrote:
“As the CEO of Slovenian Television, I am once again reaching out to you with serious and growing concerns regarding Israel’s continued participation in EBU events, especially the Eurovision Song Contest”.
She noted that she had raised these issues last year, outlining a series of reservations that have “only intensified since then”.
She continued:
“Unfortunately, the response we received did not include convincing or concrete explanations, nor did it reflect the urgency and gravity of the issue we are raising. In the meantime, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories has worsened, and public concern – both in Slovenia and across Europe – has grown significantly”.
Public Distrust: Eurovision Voting Raises Political Doubts
Horvat pointed out that the results of the most recent Eurovision voting have undermined public trust:
“Many viewers in Slovenia and elsewhere have expressed serious doubts about the reliability and transparency of the voting, especially given the political context surrounding the contest. […] The perception that political interests might influence decisions regarding participation or the final voting results has eroded public confidence in the EBU’s impartiality”.
Call for Immediate Action: “We Will Submit Specific Questions”
The letter states that the Slovenian national broadcaster will soon submit specific questions to the EBU regarding the voting process:
“We are particularly interested in comparing phone votes to online votes, as we believe this is essential for restoring trust in the integrity of the voting process”.
She further remarked, somewhat pointedly:
“As a public media organization, it is our duty to provide our audience with accurate and reliable information”.
She also criticized what she perceives as a lack of transparency:
“We do not understand why there is so much secrecy surrounding these processes”.
Withdrawal Threat: “If There Is No Serious Response, We Will Reconsider Participation”
In a stark warning, Horvat wrote:
“As a public broadcaster accountable to the public, the Slovenian national broadcaster is under increasing pressure to respond to such concerns. If the EBU does not take concrete action and address these questions, we will reconsider our participation in future Eurovision events”.
She emphasized:
“This is not a decision we would take lightly. We will be forced to do so if the EBU continues to ignore these key questions – both from an ethical standpoint and in terms of public interest”.
Urgent Call for Open Discussion: “A Comprehensive and Immediate Conversation Is Needed”
In closing her letter, Horvat called for an urgent internal discussion among EBU member states, involving musicians and representatives of civil society:
“We request an open, comprehensive, and urgent discussion among all member states – including artists and civil society representatives – regarding voting transparency, participation policies, and the safeguarding of the values to which the EBU is committed”.
She concluded by expressing hope that the EBU’s response would reflect the seriousness of the matter:
“We hope to receive a serious and substantive response and to restore trust in the transparency, accountability, and values to which the EBU is committed”.
Slovenia at Eurovision 2025
“How Much Time Do We Have Left” is the title of the song performed by singer Klemen in the first semi-final of Eurovision 2025. Slovenia failed to qualify for the grand final, after two consecutive years of success. The country finished 13th out of 15, earning only 23 points.
Eurovision 2025: This was Slovenia’s 30th participation in Eurovision. Slovenia joined the competition in 1993 and achieved its best result in Eurovision 1995 and Eurovision 2001 after finishing seventh twice.
