After Objetivo Eurovision‘s nuclear Eurodrama exploded on live TV last Saturday evening, outraged reactions have come thick and fast — from fans, countless celebrities and even from important Spanish media. Now the matter has become political. The Spanish parliament is also interested in the factors that led to Spain’s most controversial Eurovision selection yet.
Yesterday José Miguel Camacho, a representative of the Spanish Socialist Workers’ Party (PSOE) from Toledo, tabled a list of questions for the Spanish broadcaster RTVE. The questions all relate to Objetivo Eurovision.
He’s serious and determined to understand the scandal currently gripping the country’s Eurofans, which is potentially undermining the credibility of the country’s state broadcaster. His six questions cover the selection of both candidates and jury members, and probe the show’s somewhat murky behind-the-scenes procedures. José Miguel asks:
- Who approved the selection process?
- Who was in charge of choosing the jury members?
- What is the President of RTVE’s assessment of what happened during the national final?
- Who was in charge of selecting the internal acts to compete in Objetivo Eurovision?
- What criteria were used to select the internal acts to compete in Objetivo Eurovision?
- Has RTVE considered revoking the results of Objetivo Eurovision?
¿Qué pasó y por qué pasó lo que pasó en el agitado y polémico #ObjetivoEurovisión de @eurovision_tve ? Preguntas de @JoseMiguelCama1 pic.twitter.com/XnGggMAjKJ
— PSOE Congreso (@gpscongreso) February 13, 2017
José says he’s willing to open a serious debate on what has been a sour ending for Objetivo Eurovision.
But it’s not the first time that Eurovision has been tabled in the Congress of Deputies. The cost of El Sueño de Morfeo’s ESC 2013 participation worried the IU (United Left) political party. And Parliament also discussed Carolina Casado’s questionable English that resulted in her infamous “oit points” presentation at Eurovision 2015.
Manel Navarro’s press conference
With the toxic scent of Eurodrama still in the air, Manel faced the winner’s press conference on Monday. He was joined by Irene and Paloma from RTVE’s press team who delivered a brief introduction.
Manel started by apologising for a rude gesture he made during the live broadcast. He explained that this gesture wasn’t aimed at Spain or Eurofans, but at the audience members who made him feel bad by booing and jeering. “I wouldn’t wish this on anybody,” he said.
¿Ha hecho Manel un corte de mangas a sus críticos durante la polémica? #ObjetivoEurovisión https://t.co/rKR9KCWUJ1 pic.twitter.com/CSUKHHK7JL
— FormulaTV (@FormulaTV) February 11, 2017
Manel added that this is a big opportunity for him — “I’m really excited…it’s a huge responsibility” — and he also explained his delight while performing. “I shared that moment with my best friends, it was a happy one.”
Regarding the various conspiracy theories and questions surrounding the results, RTVE communications manager Carlos Garrido assured media that Objetivo Eurovision was perfectly organised.
“We followed rules and a professional jury reinforced credibility and also chose the better song,” he said. “RTVE chose ‘Do It For Your Lover’ as the best song and also Manel Navarro as the best artist that we could have for Kyiv. The rules didn’t change. They have been the same since the beginning.”
What do you think of the continuing saga of Spanish Eurodrama? Should the issue be discussed in parliament? Share your thoughts below!
Damned Manel, you have destroyed our enthusiasm for Eurovision. This fraud is a shame and humiliation for our country.
More fuel to the fire. Javier Cárdenas, one of the judges of Objetivo Eurovisión (in fact the only one of them who did not give Manel Navarro 12 points), talked about the eurodrama this morning on his radio show and advised Manel to step down and let Mirela go in his place, claiming that this has gone too far http://bluper.elespanol.com/noticias/cardenas-cree-manel-navarro-debe-ceder-mirela-puesto-eurovision
This Is stupid. A Non issue! Let him go to Kiev . Good song. Useless drama
We Spanish people will keep fighting this battle until Manel Navarro and his henchmen go to prison and give our money back. STOP CORRUPTION!
People in Europe who support this… you are supporting corruption. Don’t allow this to happen to us. We Spanish people try to fight against corruption and some of you supporting this will not help us. Let’s stop CORRUPTION. Help us! Thank you
@Paul – the important thing is that european voters know it. Because in the case that Spain wins eurovision, Eurovision will be made by TVE, and we all have an ESC like spanish selectionts. I understand some people from Spain support him (Mirela/Diva haters, people who doesnt understand his election was nor fair, and corrupts). But the key is that europe understand it. If we all realize how kind of what kind of ESC TVE would create, with both spanish and european money, maybe people will come into reason. They’ll use our money, everyone’s money, to make a private benefit… Read more »
Poor boy! You’re just a victim Manel! I like your song and I hope finally see you at Kiev. I really supports you
I don’t lke either divas, ballads and visuals in ESC….
Spain is such a corrupted country, Jezz… Yet some fans still support Manel, unbelievable!
I have read the document Ogae Spain has sent to the tribunals and I think it’s fastastic that someone finally starts a legal process instead of spreading massive hate agsinst Manel and his song in all the forums and youtube tops.
Nevertheless, I miss some info there about the Eurocasting process, where 7 songs were removed from the process through a 100% jury.
By the way, for those of you who haven’t read it in the past days, some media outlets are reporting that Xavi Martínez’s alleged attacker would be one of the composers of LeKlein’s song.
This mess just won’t stop escalating. OGAE Spain has filed a formal complaint to RTVE, the EBU and the Public Prosecutor http://www.formulatv.com/noticias/64599/ogae-espana-queja-formal-objetivo-eurovision-fiscalia-uer/
I honestly don’t believe manel is liable for anything. He obviously wanted good relations with high rated brand names. Plus i didn’t see him acting suspiciously in the national selection (maybe he lost his temper a little bit. That doesn’t mean he’s liable.) But the jury and rtves proceedings are very suspicious.
And now the facts are in their way to tribunals (http://www.ogaespain.com/ogae-espana-se-dirige-a-la-fiscalia-debido-al-bochornoso-espectaculo-de-tve-en-objetivo-eurovision/).
@an ESC Fan
Not the first time a Big 5 country have been benched for the year despite its status.
Spain has a wonderful song this year. A very desverved win!
Spain will never be out because is in big 5, but we have to endure it’s bad taste forever. Spain thinks that Europe still has latino fever, Enrique Iglesias – Bailamos, Ricky Martin – 123 Maria, Juanes, Paulina Rubio, Azucar Moreno … and others ( I know they are not all from Spain, but also Latino America ).
Spain should know that if it wants votes from Europe, should also think about Europe’s taste, not only it’s own taste.
The song that won has international potential. The juries had to do their job and help select the BEST song from this national selection show. Also Manel managed to get 3rd place from public voting. He is clearly popular.
Hello! In the first place I say that to the Spanish we do not mind that you do not vote us in the end of eurovision; Whether with Manel or Mirela, Europe would vote us equally badly because they have courage. Vote for the quality of the song not by the way in which he was chosen winner in the gala. No pongáis de escusa la corrupción, sois los peores contra vuestro propio país . Me encantaba mírela pero esto es lo hay señores.
Manel did NOT win. He was the third option and we’re NEVER going to support him because he doesn’t represent the majority of Spanish voters. We’ll fight against this shameless FRAUD.
The jury was unveiled by RTVE only 24 hours before the national final, with vinculations between one of the artists (Manel Navarro) and one member in the jury (Xavi Martínez). Rules DON’T permit this! It’s is a shameless FRAUD!! And Manel was NOT the winner and we’re not going to support corruption at all.
MANEL WON GET OVER IT LOL
Mans and Jamala winning were decisions by jury not fixing/rigging the competition. No one was crying out corruption.Michal won the televote…..no One cried out corruption.Manel winning with Mario scoring higher than Maika/Paula/Mirela/Leklein and jury member clearly biased and publicly stating he is behind Manel is Corrupt and unfair.
Manel didn’t win the final. He came in 3rd place with public televote, so he doesn’t represent Spain and of course we are not going to support him at all. We must STOP CORRUPTION. Spain must be disqualified this year due to so many evidences of fraud.
@Angela – I agree, too much drama! Of course, some things are discussable. But I think Manel had a brilliant song. It sounded bang up to date, and was not the usual “ESC cynical” made up crap from Spain. No reason why he should be disapulifed! Why?? Just because people found it unfair. Not a good enough reason. Just live with the resut. Support your own ountry (Spain) and deal with it…. What if it was the other way round…..That Manel had a cheesy latino schalger, and won in a dubious maanner. Whilst Mairella had a great modern pop song,… Read more »
didn’t *win
Manel didn’t won the final. He came in 3rd place with public televote, so he doesn’t represent Spain and of course we are not going to support him at all. We must STOP CORRUPTION. Spain must be disqualified this year due to so many evidences of fraud.
Its kinda tough to take all these allegations of corruption seriously when they’re trotted out every single time a “fan favorite” loses.
Mans wins? CORRUPTION!
Michal wins Poland’s selection? CORRUPTION!
Jamala wins? CORRUPTION!
Manel wins? CORRUPTION!
I could go on.
If there’s actual, substantial evidence of corruption, lets bring it out into the open where we can see it and judge its merits for ourselves. If you can’t find anything, you’re just whining because you didn’t get your way.
@Vladimir P. yes I was also impressed when I read that. Spanish NF isn’t known for its great organisation. “AndersP” I fear that too. I can’t imagine what would happen if Spain ever won the contest. About the 2015 Sweden – Italy and Objectivo Eurovision 2017 comparison, it doesn’t make any sense. In 2015, televoters ranked Italy 1st and the jurors 5th. So, a reason Sweden came 1st was that jurors ranked it higher than Italy. Thus, we all complained after the contest that jurors defined the winner and not the people who vote. This year, 2017, we complain about… Read more »
We dont want mirela going to Eurovision Song Contest, we want corruption out of our country. So if u vote for Manel you are With our corrupted election which is a shame. Dont vote for us, peleas e Europe, make our voice louder!
As if it even matters… both Mirela and Manel were awful
These corrupt people have STOLEN the money of THOUSAND people in Spain. There are evidences that they already knew one month in advance that Manel would go to the Eurovision, and so many other evidences of corruption… It’s not a matter of sending one song or another, it’s a matter of JUSTICE. Mirela was the REAL winner. STOP CORRUPTION!! I’m so sorry to hear that Mirela is shattered because his dear grandfather died last early morning without being able to fulfill his wish of seeing his granddaughter winning the final: http://bluper.elespanol.com/noticias/mirela-destrozada-muere-su-abuelo-objetivo-eurovision-aguanto-verla-ganar My heartfelt condolences to Mirela and her family. 🙁… Read more »
@cheesecake
It’s about justice and corruption, not about Mirela or Manel.
I love Spain and I love Eurofans but at this point RTVE just have to do themselves a favor and withdraw from this year’s contest. It’s getting way out of hand now, it’s ridiculous. We all know corruption must have gone down at RTVE so try to save your dignity while you actually can.
With so many serious and socially concerning issues affecting the country, this is what they have to discuss?? Seriously?? A song competition?? How old are they really? Still 5?? #aintnobodygottimeforsomuchwasteoftime
… Just to think Russia is the most desperate country to win Eurovision … Spain in hindsight seems eager to get that status too … but this is just Donald-Trump-esque pathetic!!
If something comes from this my hope is they select a different song from the 6 presented in the NF. That way this jury drama can stop and we don’t have to listen to Mirela’s awful song either. It would seriously flop even more than Manel would and Manel is definitely a contender for last place. If they do bring anyone back from those 6 then it should be Leklein just due to the fact she had to go through all that trouble of even qualifying whereas the others just got an instant ticket to the NF. They seriously need… Read more »
@Voxtaylor
Exactly you see the point.Spain is asking all fans of the contest to #come together and fight corruption in Spain. Show RTVE irrespective of who we supported #We are One and stand united against corruption.
It is not a matter of whether the rules were or not announced. What happened here is the following… 1. Xavi Martínez, the “juror”, has been systematically in his radio show backing Manel as an option, and said literally he would try to send him to ESC. 2. He is supposed to have been sent a basket with wine and other goods by Manel by Christmas time. 3. Both of them have gone out together to have dinner some weeks before the show. 4. Toñi Prieto’s daughter (Toñi Prieto is the head of entertaining programmes in TVE) works for Sony… Read more »
I just thought I would mention this…
If Manel gave an insulting gesture to the audience in his National Final, wouldn’t the EBU reject him as an artist? Ponder that for a minute; it might come up again in March. 🙂
So you have sent e-mails to EBU to disqualify your country, Spain. The worst thing for you is that EBU will not do that because you are in big 5. Ha Ha Ha you are stuck with Manel because a big 5 country that has no debts (I guess) has no chance to be disqualified.
This. Is. Eurovision. Just because toxicity has always been an element doesn’t mean it belongs. You don’t even have to look further than some of the slogans the contest has had over the past five or so years. “We Are One,” “Building Bridges,” “Celebrate Diversity.” It’s a song contest, just have fun. Honestly, I’ve never cared about placings. Just the fact that so many countries are coming together under one roof, regardless of their relations, is beautiful enough to hold my attention.
Enough already, to leave Manel calm, he is a professional singer deserves all the respect, he is one more victim. Every year, the same thing to get involved with Spain and discredit their singers
@cheesecake – everyone will know what happened when we didnt send anyone to eurovision.
The matter is already in hands of EBU, a batery of emails and reclamationts have been sent. And the first political Party in Spain, Partido Popular, is going to bring the subject aswell into Congress.
But sure this is all becuase of Mirela… keep thinking that if makes you happy.
@cheesecake
Oh absolutely…….If Manel had won the televote and the jury had deliberately marked him low by placing him even below Mario and still he managed to force a tie with the jury winner I’d be pissed if he didn’t get chosen.
How can you tell two people your genre is dead and still give them more points than two other people just because they are more popular with the public than your duck-buddy.Shame on Xavi.Shame on RTVE.Shame on you cheesecake for trivializing the issue.
And can y’all please stop saying that Spain will finish last? First of all, just because you preferred another song, doesn’t make “Do It For Your Lover” the worst song in the final. And more importantly, the majority of viewers won’t know anything about this so-called scandal, so they won’t care and cast their vote anyway.
I think you should at least be fair towards Manel.
This Carlos Garrido dude even says that RTVE chose Manel as the best possible artist with the best possible song to represent them in Kiev. If that was the case then why even bother with a national selection? Surely the point of that is for the people to choose, not the TV company
I’m sorry, but this is just getting (even more) ridiculous, just get over it. Would everybody make such a fuss about this if it had been the other way around, if Manel had got the most televote points and Mirela the most from the jury? I feel sorry for Manel.
And doesn’t the Spanish Parliament have more important issues than the “oit points”?
A few other questions need answering……. 1.Why did the judges leave the stage area before giving their final points? They are anyways meant to not collude so they should have stayed there and given their points? 2.These judge supporters say that they gave Mirela’s song the least 5 points as its a dance-pop number and not radio-friendly and yet Mario’s clearly worser song of the same genre got more points than other acts by the same people? 3.The female judge says she liked Leklein’s song best and yet didn’t give her the highest points…..not even the second highest……. which went… Read more »
@an ESC fan
Get the point right.Spainairds don’t hate their own country.They love their country and want corruption out of it.Right now most people don’t care Marela didn’t get to represent them….. They are against corruption in their country.Currently Manel is the poster child for corruption in Spain, he is not even the representative of people of Spain.That’s why I can’t support him.I couldn’t care less now if ‘Knucklebone Oscar and the Shangri-la rubies’ sang at ESC for Spain.Say no to corruption
The question is not Mirela or Manel. The question is that RTVE’s delegation is a disaster and they prove it EVERY YEAR. The irregularities of jury and the horrible preselection was the straw that broke the camel’s back. PLEASE HELP US TO MAKE SPANISH DELEGATION RESING AND STOP FACING MANEL AND MIRELA.