How much time do we have left together? Well, when it comes to Slovenia and Eurovision, not very much.
The director of state broadcaster RTVSLO has said it’s unlikely they will return to the song contest after being repeatedly ignored over their various concerns by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
Her comments came during the broadcaster’s annual planning session when it discusses upcoming shows and productions.
Slovenia: RTVSLO director says Eurovision withdrawal is likely
As you can read on the official Evrovizija web site, RTVSLO Ksenija Horvat first discussed the production of a new show, which would be the basis for selecting the country’s act for Eurovision 2026. It would be similar to the EMA Fres show, which in years past has helped choose acts for the EMA Eurovision selection. But it seems that none of this will be needed.
“Now, as you know, a lot of things have happened from April onwards,” she said. “There were quite a few calls from us to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) asking they talk more with us – with smaller television stations – about what rules it has for participating in the Eurovision Song Contest. We sent some very specific questions and proposals, just like last year.”
Many of these questions related directly to Israel’s controversial participation.
“Last year we were more or less ignored. This year is basically the same. So we realistically think that we will not be able to go to the Eurovision Song Contest. If we won’t be able to reach an appropriate system of participation, we will not be there. It means that the series of talent shows [that would select the entry] would no longer have a purpose.”
Slovenia was the first country to call for a debate about Israel’s participation at Eurovision, initially writing to the EBU in December 2024. Following the fallout over the 2025 contest results, the broadcaster repeated its appeal with starker terms.
Horvat sent a letter to the EBU expressing concern over how Israel’s participation has shifted the dynamics of the contest, making Eurovision anything but apolitical and unifying. Horvat noted that she had already addressed the EBU on this matter last year, but without success — and since then, the concerns have only grown stronger.
“Unfortunately, the response we received did not contain convincing or concrete explanations, nor did it reflect the urgency and seriousness of the issue we are addressing. During this time, the humanitarian situation in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories has worsened, and public concern — both in Slovenia and throughout Europe — has increased significantly.
“Many viewers in Slovenia and elsewhere expressed serious doubts about the credibility and transparency of the voting, especially in light of the political context surrounding the contest. The feeling that political interests could influence decisions on participation or the final vote results has shaken public trust in the impartiality of the EBU.
“We are particularly interested in comparing telephone votes with online votes, as we believe this is essential to restoring trust in the integrity of the voting process. As a public media organisation, we have a duty to provide our audience with accurate and verifiable information.
“As a broadcaster accountable to the public, Television Slovenia is under increasing pressure to respond to these concerns. If the EBU does not take concrete steps and address these issues, we will be forced to reconsider our participation in future Eurovision events.
“We will be compelled to take this step if the EBU continues to ignore these key concerns — concerns that must be addressed from both an ethical and public interest perspective. We are calling for an open, inclusive, and urgent debate among EBU members — including music performers and civil society representatives — on voting transparency, engagement policies, and the consistent, credible implementation of the EBU’s stated values.”
Kudos to Slovenia for standing their ground
Slovenia you won’t be missed as you haven’t had a good song in years
Noel suddenly thinks they are the voice of all Eurovision fans….
Clearly something has to happen. Things cannot stay as they are.
Hopefully they’re not the only broadcaster with a moral compass and the willingness to act on it.
Slovenia has the only broadcaster that aren’t cowards. Good on them for taking a stand
It’s kinda naive to still claim the contest is just about songs when clearly politics have been part of these past years. Like who honestly believe they won televote because their Idol winning style of song was the best? Just look where it is charting…
Surely even the bosses recognize foul play by now..
I mean, this contest has never been apolitical. Politics have formed so much of it. Most winners have been politics. Even Loreen back in 2012 is a political win in a way. And Conchita was not just due to song.
At least Slovenia no longer pretends that its decision would depend on a vote on Israel’s participation. Apparently, it was always a case of “us or them,” regardless of how the countries would decide in December. However, if Slovenia will only accept its preferred outcome, there is no point in voting at all. Why demand a democratic decision when you yourself are not democratic enough to deal with a possible defeat? My verdict: just kick Slovenia out. At this point, they are basically blackmailing the EBU. This is unacceptable and should be punished immediately. Regardless of how the General Assembly… Read more »
Slovenia’s insistence on addressing the issues regarding Israel are perfectly legitimate, but at the same time one wonders if there isn’t more to it than meets the eye and I’ll just leave it at that. It could have waited until December and yet it’s virtue signaling now.
How so? I would imagine the participants list is being discussed now, so now’s the time to act. Waiting until December once the full list of participants is out wouldn’t do anything.
Still pretending nothing is ever happening, Martin Green? Österdahl at least acknowledged some stuff. I’m with Slovenia all the way here and a decent organization would do anything to make them stay. Slovenia are our neighbors. Austria as organizer should side with them since they are only trying to save the contest we are hosting.
As I Slovene, it’s not just about the one country, it’s also a whole lot of other things. First it’s also a big financial burden, second tehre are a lot of people, mostly on the right wing campaigning to stop going to ESC for years now. It’s also the very bad results and the voting. It’s obvious that small countries can’t win the televote, San Marino haf effing Flo Rida and couldn’t get points. The problem is also the juries – Raiven got 15 points – really?? She placed 22 out of 25 in juries for the best vocal perfromance… Read more »
I would say these are valid concerns (from a lot of countries)… Except for Flo Rida lol. He’s a Tier 6 rapper who hasn’t released anything good in over a decade, no one here in the US even knows he still exists. He was never going to bring in any points, for San Marino or anyone else.
FYI, withdrawal of countries without penalty was extended from October to December this year when the general assembly of the EBU convenes in Geneva to decide among other things whether Israel participates or not. If Slovenia wants to take a principled stance, it should make it loud and clear that it’s about Israel’s war and its consequences and not about Rtvslo’s budget or voting mismanagement. Don’t beat around the bush, withdraw now if you already made up your mind (unless this is a false alarm meant to get the EBU’s utmost attention).
“FYI, withdrawal of countries without penalty was extended from October to December this year”
When do they have to pay? If they’ve already paid do they get their money back if they withdraw?
Raiven was my literal favorite last year. She deserved so much better, you all can be so proud of her performance.
Agree with some of the points but small countries can’t win the televote? Finland and Croatia are both relatively small, and so is Estonia who was second this year.
Bye Bye, won’t miss them at all, please withdraw for good
The broadcaster probably knew about the disqualification should’ve been gone to Eden Golan last year, by the whole delegation harassing other artists.
Good. Bye. The contest’s dynamics have indeed clearly shifted when broadcasters as RTVSLO keep involving politics themselves while keeping pampering jealousy for big public votes where people vote however they wish and while hired juries break the trust by voting politically (where was this in 2022) and another broadcaster’s participation from a country invaded and now under war (again, 2021-now?), and trying to force music representatives and artists to get invloved with voicing their political opinions, as this very article admits when quoting RTVSLO. Not to mention sanctimonious lecturing about ethics while pointing one side suffer and the other side’s… Read more »
Don’t mix apples and oranges. The Israeli case is completely different than the war in Ukraine. If you have some integrity, you’ll admit it and won’t repeat the ‘Who started it’ play book.
Hopefully more countries follow suit. The EBU needs to do something about this instead of pushing the “discussions” back another year.
germany probably gonna host esc soon, you know why
Great, 2011 was a great production.
Please enlight us which conspiracy theory you’re referring to.
I think what Jo. means is Germany hosting after Israel have won the contest (because there’s no way ESC would be held there).
This whole mindset is ludicrous and baseless. It feeds itself from a combination of preconceived myths and wild hallucinations.
It’s not my opinion. It’s what I think the user Jo. meant.
True, and the same goes for your own selective comments of pretentious “arbitration” for conflicts situations to pretend the ethics of which broadcaster gets to participate in a music contest and which isn’t based on who you prefer to acknowledge as victims and which side you choose to ignore – so it’s excellent you did the first step to notice the combination of preconceived myths and wild hallucinations.
You don’t have to lecture me. I defended Israel’s participation for the past 2 years, but not anymore. Nobody needs to re-address the atrocious nature and the complete justification of Israel’s response to Oct7, but that is NOT where we are today. I repeat what I said that Israel in ESC should be treated like the former Belgrade regime after 1992 with all the circumstantial differences but that’s as far as I will go. No debate here.
And yet when it comes to Ukraine or anybody else into e present, you also lectured about mixing apples and oranges for comparing different entities and situations, and while now you keep via comparing Israel and past-Belgrade under admitted “circumstantial differences”. I know you used to defend Israel, more so the broadcaster’s participation; why It’s further confusing that you mix the situation now with the broadcasters’ participation in a music contest based on separate government war actions (also speaking of apples and oranges). I get that situations change and I have much criticism on actions and specific figures in Israel’s… Read more »
Whether you like it or not, Israel is now a parahia state and that has immediate consequences in sports, entertainment, academia, commerce and more. Other countries in ESC have flaws but nothing begins to come even close to the leadership there which is branded as war criminals and downright criminals against its own people, so you don’t want to go there. I’m telling you Israel will be absent in 2026 because of its own doing and its broadcaster is also complicit in its coverage and self-imposed censorship from what I know, read and see.