BRUSSELS.- The festival of Eurovis continued to generate unprecedented controversy, days after its winner was crowned, the 27 countries of the European Union (EU) attacked the organizers for their inconsistency in prohibiting their bandera in the concert hall during the final.
In an unusually blunt letter, the vice-president of the European Commission, Margaritis Schinas, wrote to the organizer of the contest, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), based in Switzerland, that its ban contributes to discredit a symbol that brings together all the Europeans.
In a contest already rife with controversy, the European Commission said it plans a lively discussion with organizers about the ban. Although the 27 EU countries did not compete as such, many of their member states did, and the blue flag is often seen as a unifier for all involved.
Schinas wrote that such actions have overshadowed what is supposed to be a joyous occasion for people across Europe and the world to gather in celebration.
The flag is displayed at countless events and in all EU nations, often flying alongside the national colours, from small town halls to huge government buildings.
Schinas was especially upset as the ban came just a month before the EU parliamentary elections, where the union as an institution is the subject of fierce debate and is often attacked by extremist parties.
The inconsistency in the EBU’s position has left me and many millions of viewers wondering what and who the Eurovision Song Contest represents, the letter said.
During the week that the contest lasted, the organizers faced protests related to the war in Gaza and Israel’s participation in the event, in addition to the disqualification of the Dutch participant. Swedish police said Joost Klein would likely be charged with making illegal threats. The nature of the alleged threats was not disclosed.
Prior to the final, an EBU spokesperson had said that only flags that represented the participating countries were allowed to be carried and displayed, as well as the rainbow flag, which is a symbol for Lgbtq+ communities.
Swiss singer Nemo won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday night with The Codean operatic pop-rap ode to the singer’s journey toward accepting a non-gender identity.
FUENTE: AP
