The Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sanchez, defended his country’s decision not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest this year, saying that Spain cannot remain silent in the face of Israel’s actions in Gaza and Lebanon, reports Anadolu.

In a video message shared on the American social platform X, Sanchez said that Spain’s absence from the contest reflects its commitment to human rights and international law.

“This this year will be different”, said Sanchez, recalling the decision of the Spanish public broadcaster RTVE not to participate, which he described as “both sustainable and necessary: to stand up against injustice”.

“That is why Spain is not participating in the Eurovision Song Contest, because our commitment to human rights and international law is also expressed through culture”, he said.

The Prime Minister compared this decision to Russia’s exclusion. from the race after its war in Ukraine.

“When Russia invaded Ukraine, it was excluded from the race and Spain supported that decision. The same principles should apply when we talk about Israel,” he said. “There can be no double standards,” Sanchez added.

The 2026 contest kicked off on May 12 and the grand final will be held on Saturday.

Sanchez said Spain has historically supported Eurovision because the contest was created to “promote peace,” “unite us” and “celebrate the diversity of the European continent.”

“But in the face of illegal war and genocide, silence is not an option,” he said. he.

“And we cannot remain indifferent to what continues to happen in Gaza and Lebanon. It is a matter of consistency, responsibility and humanity,” he added.

The Spanish prime minister also mentioned the stance of several other countries, including Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Slovenia, which are not participating in this year’s edition.

“This year, then, will be different — yes, we will not be in Vienna, but we will do this with the conviction that we are on the right side of history”, said Sanchez.

Source: prizrenpost