A police drone hangs above the old center of Malmö. Cops with straight faces patrol the store windows with cinnamon rolls and moose hats. They are all heavily armed, very exceptionally in Sweden.
If you travel 5 kilometers south, you will encounter a kilometer-long network of roadblocks, iron fences and other railings around the Malmö Arena – usually the home of the Malmö Redhawks ice hockey club. A helicopter circles in the sky.
Participation of Israel
All measures are part of an extensive security plan that makes this edition of the Eurovision Song Contest the most secure ever. While the Eurovision spectacle with performances in Tel Aviv (2019) and Kyiv (2017) is quite accustomed, this festival is under political tension. Israel’s participation splits the Eurovision Song Contest – once symbolically won by Nicole with her sweet wish for Ein Bisschen Frieden (a little peace) – inside and outside the Malmö Arena in supporters and opponents.
The discussion is taking place on many fronts. A large pro-Palestinian demonstration is planned for next Thursday, when Israel plays in the second semi-final, in the center of Malmö. The organization says it is counting on 20,000 to 40,000 demonstrators. For the unannounced, and potentially less peaceful, protests, the Swedish police receive help from colleagues from Norway and Denmark.
To refuse
The tension can be completely traced back to the decision of the Eurovision Song Contest organizer European Broadcasting Union (EBU) not to exclude Israel because of the war in Gaza. According to the Eurovision Charter, the festival will always remain apolitical. According to director Martin Österdahl, this means that no countries can be refused based on political choices. The Israeli broadcaster KAN has simply met all the conditions for participation.
However, critics point to the absence of Russia and Belarus, both absent since the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The EBU only states that both broadcasters have been suspended as members due to ‘spreading disinformation about the invasion of Ukraine’. And anyone who is not a member of the EBU cannot participate by definition.
Joost Klein
Yet the Eurovision Song Contest remains a barometer of mutual geopolitical relations. The tension between the delegations of Armenia and Azerbaijan continues and Cyprus and Greece will again exchange points this year. Opinions are divided about Israel. In Sweden, more than 1,000 artists – including singer Robyn and folk duo First Aid Kit – supported a call to ban Israel from the festival.
When it became clear that the EBU would maintain its position, criticism focused on individual participants. In April, 250 Dutch artists asked Dutch participant Joost Klein to withdraw in an open letter. He refused. He thought it was ‘too big a problem to put on one small artist’.
Boycott
Earlier, 9 participants, including British singer Olly Alexander, signed an open letter calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. At the same time, they stated that they believed in the connecting power of music. In other words: they would further ignore a boycott of the festival. Alexander in particular was under fire in his own country.
The atmosphere online was also extremely grim. Not only the Israeli participant Eden Golan was the victim, the two non-binary candidates (Bambi Thug from Ireland and Nemo from Switzerland) were also repeatedly confronted with hate messages. It led to an official call for calm from the EBU.
Gags
For Golan, only 20 years old, it is a very sad edition of the festival. Due to threats, she is not present at any promotional moments and mainly stays in her hotel room. By the way, she had to change the text of her original submission October Rain because it referred too clearly to the Hamas attack on October 7. Golan now takes office with Hurricanea neat love song.
There was also discussion about the act, according to costume designer Alon Livne in the Israeli media. He said he had been instructed by the EBU to review proposals involving the use of tattered clothing and gags. The Israeli broadcaster KAN did not respond to repeated calls to contribute to this article.
Eurovision Valhalla
When the Eurovision circus sets up its tents in a city there is normally a jubilant atmosphere, but in Malmö the atmosphere is not as cheerful as usual. The tabloid Express spoke shamefully about an incident at the so-called Eurovision Village, a small Eurovision mecca for fans, located in a popular city park. At the entrance on Sunday, a 4-year-old girl was asked to have her candy bag examined by police officers. “Is this all worth it?” the newspaper asked rhetorically.
On the other hand, the dark situation on the world stage seems to create an extra need for a unifying music festival that emphasizes similarities instead of differences. Österdahl assumes that the Eurovision festival will weather the storm. ‘Whatever problem, we solve it. The Eurovision Song Contest has always done that.”
About the author: pop music and media reporter Stefan Raatgever follows the Eurovision Song Contest closely for Het Parool. Since 2014, he has attended the Eurovision spectacle eight times. This year he reports from Malmö.
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You’ll hear it in the episode below Amsterdam metropolis.
Tags: heavily secured Eurovision Song Contest music festival political tension
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