Mehriban Aliyeva, Azerbaijan’s First Lady and the head of the country’s Eurovision steering community, controls a lot of things. But she couldn’t control German TV presenter Anke Engelke during Eurovision’s live broadcast on May 26. Anke, who hosted Eurovision 2011 in Düsseldorf, used the voting segment to take a swipe at Azerbaijan’s government. “Tonight, nobody could vote for their own country, but it is good to be able to vote and to have a choice,” she said. “Good luck on your journey, Azerbaijan. Europe is watching you.”

It’s a loaded statement. President Ilham Aliyev, whose father was also president, abolished term limits via a widely disputed referendum in 2009. The Human Rights House Foundation described the country’s most recent elections in 2010 as a farce.

What do you think? Was it inappropriate of the German TV presenter to use Eurovision as a political platform? Should her comment be edited out of the DVD? Or do you think that she was brave and should be applauded for taking a stand? Let us know!

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AnthyGreece
AnthyGreece
11 years ago

In half Germany live greek people.The german vote are FALSE!

Don
Don
11 years ago

Hmm… this one’s a tosser… on the one hand, what she said was correct (we Montréalois have to stick together!); on the other hand, the venue was ill-chosen. Eurovision Grand Prix de la Chanson is something of an event like the Olympic Games or the World Cup – politics has nothing lost at either one. Everyone already KNOWS Europe is watching (the incredibly obvious is unnecessary when the merely obvious will suffice), and causing headlines like “German Presenter Criticizes Azerbaijan During Live Broadcast” isn’t exactly conducive to friendlier relations between the nations, either. Corps Diplomatique: FAIL. Facit: nice try, but… Read more »

Rebecca
Rebecca
11 years ago

The bravest woman on that evening!
it’s a pity that she was the only one of the spokesmen, who comment on the political situation in Azerbaijan…

Mila Teleki
Mila Teleki
11 years ago

Very brave of her.Wish we had more people like her.

B
B
11 years ago

Good for her! Now I love her even more!

David Thielen
11 years ago

I think what she did was pitch perfect. Good for her!

Gavin
Gavin
11 years ago

I loved her as a presenter last year, and now i love her even more. Well done for pushing this statement forward and in a diplomatic way. This is a progressive aknowlegement and also one of positivity towards the country… I hope the eurovision in Azabijan has indeed opened up discussion and a feeling of change. Now we just need Turkey and any other nation that bans gay rights to win and address full on homosexuality and we might just be heading towards a more progressive and thoughtfull and accepting Europe. It honestly seems such a backward step to see… Read more »

Mark London
Mark London
11 years ago

Of course she had every right to mention it, and very cleverly too