The Board of Directors of the Corporation made this decision on Tuesday by an absolute majority of its members.
Spain is the first Big Five member to adopt this agreement and joins other European countries that have already announced their withdrawal.
This decision does not affect the plans for the celebration of Benidorm Fest, a well-established festival with its own identity.
The Board of Directors of RTVE agreed during its meeting on Tuesday, September 16, that Spain will withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel takes part in the competition.
The measure was proposed by the president of RTVE, José Pablo López, and approved by an absolute majority of the Corporation’s governing body, with 10 votes in favor, 4 against, and one abstention.
Spain is the first Big Five country (made up of the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Germany, and Spain) to make this decision and joins other countries that have already announced their withdrawal from Eurovision if Israel is not excluded, following the announcements of Ireland, Slovenia, Iceland, and the Netherlands.
Last July, at the 94th General Assembly of the EBU, RTVE had already called for a serious and in-depth debate on Israel’s participation in the next edition of the Eurovision Song Contest. Other countries supported Spain’s request. The Corporation stressed the need for the EBU to find a solution before the next General Assembly, which will be held in December.
The decision adopted today by RTVE’s Board of Directors regarding Eurovision does not alter the plans for the celebration of Benidorm Fest, a festival with its own identity, fully consolidated, and which next year will hold its fifth edition.
Source: RTVE Statement
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