German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has said that he would support Germany withdrawing from Eurovision 2026 if Israel is excluded.
Speaking to public broadcaster ARD on Sunday, Chancellor Merz was asked whether Germany should voluntarily withdraw if EBU members vote to remove Israel from the competition.
“I would support this,” he said. “I think it’s a scandal that this is even being discussed. Israel has a place there.”
Germany: Chancellor Friedrich Merz says he’d support Eurovision withdrawal if Israel is excluded
The chancellor’s comments come ahead of a crucial vote in early November during which members of the European Broadcasting Union will vote on whether to exclude Israel from the competition. His comments show the deep divisions within the Big 5 — the countries that contribute the most financially to Eurovision.
France Télévisions has already made it clear that it will participate in the contest regardless of which other countries are present to “reaffirm its support for musical creation, to artists, and for this unique event.” Spain’s RTVE, on the other hand, has said that it will withdraw if Israel competes in Vienna.
This sense of division continues among non-Big 5 broadcasters. Broadcasters in Ireland, The Netherlands, Iceland and Slovenia have threatened to pull out if Israel remains in the competition. Danish broadcaster DR has said it won’t withdraw over Israel’s participation, but that certain conditions must be met.
No country has been represented at the song contest more times than Germany, which has made 68 appearances since 1956. Besides its musical contributions, which include two wins in 1982 and 2010, it is also the contest’s biggest financial contributor.
It has the largest economy in Europe and the biggest population of all participating broadcasters. A German withdrawal would impact the contest’s budget and reduce viewing figures. In May, more than nine million viewers in Germany watched the grand final — the highest number in a decade and an increase of 1.18 million over the 2024 edition.
Despite Merz’s interview, it is ultimately Germany’s broadcaster that will make the decision about its participation.
Things ARE falling apart, guys and dolls. 🙁
is this still a song contest ?
No.
I see the Austrian Chancellor is saying he doesn’t want to host ESC if Israel is excluded. We get it, the Austrians welcomed the German army in 1939, a shameful action but like their northern neighbours are completely blinded when it comes to Israel. I’m really beginning to wonder idmf ESC 26 will happen at all.
Just to be clear, given the current Trump-mediated (and as a result 100% detrimental to the Palestinian cause) ceasefire. This doesn’t change anything regarding the need to ban Israel from the contest. Ending the current slaughter is of course imperative, but as long as Israel continues to have Palestinians under a state of ap@rtheid in the West Bank and in a fully controlled open-air concentration camp in G@za with full control over all commodities and fully cut-out from the outside world, its crimes against humanity will not have been stopped. Until there is a viable Palestinian State with the pre-1967… Read more »
Now that a ceasefire is in place, a majority will likely vote in favor of Israel’s participation. This means that the Netherlands, which is quite unpopular in Eurovision circles, will be absent from the ESC. In Israel and Germany, they’ll be laughing their heads off.
Netherlands and the other countries willl withdraw their objections if there is a cease fire. The whole objection was based on the gaza war continuing. So that’s done now. I doubt there will be a vote.
The Dutch broadcaster has explicitly stated that a ceasefire will not change anything: they will not participate this year if Israel does. What the other countries threatening a boycott will do in the event of a ceasefire is unknown.
What makes you think that The Netherlands is quite unpopular in a Eurovision circle. They’re the 6 countries after the big 5 which the broadcasters make quite large financial contributions to the EBU. At least The Netherlands has guts to stand up not like other countries still living in the past feeling guilty what has happened in WW2
The general social media trend in recent years shows a shift toward amusement at the Netherlands’ misfortune. Many were pleased when they were disqualified in 2024 and now there is a similar reaction to the likelihood of them missing out on 2026.
Just face it folks – there will be no ESC next year!
There will not be a vote now that there’s a deal to end the Gaza war. Spain etc will back out of the request soon.
Source for this important update… or is just YOUR theory?
Maybe a solution/compromise would be Israel being represented in the contest but not being a contestant, meaning that it would not be included in the voting. The question of being expelled is out, the boycotting (either way) is out, the pressure is out and the voting is secure of tampering.
I mean it is an option, but not a good one in my opinion. In fact, it would outrage both parties even more, the defenders because they will think it’s derogatory and the detractors because they will say it’s a bland measure.
Netanyahu should withdraw.
Then no one else would need to.
Just vote and accept the result.
Okay then we need Russia back as well. Why not? Let the wars be on stage as well since there is too little bloodshed everywhere else
That practically means we will lose countries no matter the decision. I feel like watching some primary school kids fighting for nonsense.
Who’d have thought that politicizing an apolitical event would come at a cost?
But honestly, at this point we can only hope for damage control. Even 36 countries in Vienna could be considered a best case scenario.
ORF and EBU better prepare to scrap one of the semis. It might be necessary.
The “apolitical event” that banned a lot of flags including the Pride flag?
Then they need to look at what would be the lesser evil, the one that would cause the least damage.
If Israel is expelled, we know Germany will withdraw (unless more countries will join as well). And if Israel still participate, we know 7 countries will withdraw (with Italy, Poland, and the UK contemplating on withdrawal as well).
We should also note if Israel is expelled, there will be countries such as Lebanon will be encouraged to join (they almost did in 2005 but withdraw due to Lebanese law prohibiting the broadcast of Israeli content).
Enough with the Lebanese pipedream. Dream on about Lebanon or any other Arab country joining whether Israel is there or not. The contest goes against their cultural and traditional values. The only question is damage control like you accurately point out and there is no easy answer here.
Well done Germany! Denmark, Norway and Sweden will not vote against Israel too. Israel will take part in 2026, I hope.
That does not mean they will vote yes either..
Most likely they will abstain from voting.
There will not be a vote anymore
Different public broadcasters has different situations to handle. In Scandinavia the broadcasters should be independent from government and be value neutral. To take stance – for or against – could question its neutrality.
Israeli here!
Nothing we do, will be OK. If we remain in the competition, we’ll be guilty of sowing discord (even more than Orban ?). If we choose to not compete this time, we acknowledge guilt and concede Island and Spain are right – saying we are monsters.
I believe this battle is already lost. I just hope Europe to be more united in fighting with the free world against you know who …… ?
You are not monsters but you have a monstrous government.
Hamas are evil, so is Netanyahu.
Peace.
“The free world” and you won’t even let gay people get married unless they get their marriage license elsewhere.
Everyone was quick to ban or admonish Russia for their actions though. Once again proving no one cares if the victims of horrors aren’t white, or Christian.
It’s not like Ukraine attacked Russia, though.
So unless Israel withdraws of their own Accord, Next year’s Eurovision might lose part of its financial Support and not only that of some Big 4 countries but maybe also the main sponsor.
Germany’s withdrawal would be a desaster, especially for our bladders. There goes or annual ESC toilet break.
Given the circumstances, I think the Eurovision Song Contest could do with going on a bit of a break. Evidently it’s possible we’re going to lose at least one of the Big 5 either way the vote goes, so let’s stop and think. Use the break to do a reassessment of funding, restructuring, remodelling and rebranding. I’d actually move it away from nation’s broadcasters entirely if I had the option to – perhaps it’s time to broadcast the contest online directly, and to keep the public vote to one vote per viewer, somehow. Beyond that, also think about what you… Read more »
This would actually be a win-win situation.
?xcept that Germany is the biggest sponsor of Eurovision. Good luck without them 🙂
Germany is completely blind where Israel is concerned. Yes what they did in WWII as an atrocity but that should’t blind them what’s going on in 2025.
This is proof they haven’t learn anything from WWII. Just like in the 1930’s they believe a genocide can be a fine if you do it for the right reasons. Germany’s position is not only insane but also quite worrying.
German here, I dont know anyone in my country who supports the I country
The televote is the vote of the people. The support for Israel from all parts of Europe and indeed from the world (“Rest of the World”-vote) has been overwhelming. Especially, when looking at the countries the people’s votes come from. Almost every country with a large population voted for Israel. One should not mix up social media or street campaigning with what the people think. Excluding Israel means excluding the will of the people – the whole competition would turn into farce. Small jury cirlces often influenced by current polit fashions would take the decision – that is the death… Read more »
” the will of the people..the vote was manipulated by a campaign government paid for. People who do not even watch ESC voted for Israel.
Besides, if it really has people support then why is it not charting anywhere? Surely a song that is the people’s champion translate to charts. Yet almost every other song from ESC has outperformed it.
well done, Chancellor Merz.
On the wrong side of history … again
Speaking of history have a look at what happened today two years ago…open your eyes
Great, Germany is at the right decent track while showing its education for fully understanding the present, the history, and in this case also the actual spirit of Eurovision.
Melt
Yeah – you, melt within your own bitterness and misery.
I ain’t bitter darling.
I’m also not condoning the unaliving of children so…
Yes, I fully agree. We have been learning about the Holocaust at school, the horrible truth was presented to us in plain words. We had a school trip to Theresienstadt – a concentration camp – when I was 16 and now at a more mature age I value the education received. When anti-semitic racism is coming back it is not the fault of eductional institutions but irresponsible posting of racism and Jew-hate on social media. It remains a challenge to find a recipe against the desinformation spread. I do not have a solution either.
Thank you very much you for this honest and wise words. I’v also visited several concentration camps via school. Yeah unfortunately social media – both articles and comments – create dichotomies which misstrest the reality especially to justify and excuse hatred and division while spreading it to every possible territory such as Eurovision. I think you have the solution – your kind honest comment about sticking to facts plus to separate events while sticking yo each event’s spirit; people like you, are the solution.
Thank you very much for your kind words. There is still a bit of hope.
You’ve learned nothing from your trip if you think this is about Jews.
Germany once again on the wrong side of history, trying to wash their collective guilt for the humiliating events of WWII with the blood of a another tormented people group.
How dramatic… So full of speeches…BTW Germany is only talking about withdrawing from Eurovision… It sounds a bit weird to say that participating or not in Eurovision means being on the right/wrong side of history.
It’s not the participation or not that warrants if people are on the right or wrong side of history.
It’s forcing us to keep a participant who is committing gross crimes and legal violations on condition that they too will pull out of the criminals are removed.
Bigger picture Jon bigger picture. You post naive drivel like this on the daily but you’re STILL NOT GETTING IT. Or else you refuse to get it and enjoy looking like a fool I guess
Germany’s entire stance on the matter is what I am commenting above not only what Merz said about Eurovision. Which of course was fully expected
We already know Eurovision 2026 is ruined
Nah, ESC 2026 will be great. All the people causing drama the last two years will hopefully fulfill their promise and go away, letting us finally have a normal Eurovision again.
there will be no normal song contest in 2026 and you know that too,
otherwise you are verry naief
One “non-political” argument is enough to question Israel’s presence in the competition: their obvious impact on televote results and thus their impact on the integrity of the competition for the last 2 years. I don’t want to live this again. I’m not against israeli artists receiving good points from the public as long as it is deserved and the streaming charts prove these results right. I just want a fair competition, which seems impossible right now. Plus, spending millions on a massive advertising campaign, although not violating the rules of the competition, seems absolutely unfair to countries that do not… Read more »
Well, if the EU care about dishonesty, they have a strange way to show it
Why does Germany always position itself on the wrong side of history?
They are hoping to get the Israeli points from the viewers if Israel got disqualified
As a California I want Israel to remain in ESC. If they leave I support Germany and any other country who wants to withdraw.
Your comment confirms that you are not a Californian lol
nice try.
Your thousands of comments and their luneytoon nature confirm from long ago that you are not human and will never know what it means to be such. Iololol yodele hi ho. Nice try bot clown.
There’s more than one California????
The war looks like it will be ending and they will cancel the November vote
It wont and they wont cancel..
Even if they agree on peace deal, there is not much goodwill left towards Israel
It’s not a war.
So Germans and Germnay brainwashing themselves ans trying to overcompensate what happened 80 years ago…
Merz’s position is meaningless. It’s not his call. It’s true that according to a recent ARD poll 65% of Germans support Israel’s inclusion in the contest, but that doesn’t justify the insistence on Israel’s participation which is toxic and being weaponized to whitewash its broadcaster’s own duplicity in pretending to be independent on the one hand and collaborating with the government and caving in to governmental dictates on the other hand.
Does anyone care what the German chancellor says? It’s been well established that he does not represent the mood of the nation. I’m so over this farce.
Eurovision’s been ruined by idiots like Metz, he’s probably never even watched a contest.
Get Israel out!
Germany has voted in two consecutive years overwhelmingly for Israel in the televote. Maybe the Chancellor tries to build on that, lol.
Considering Israeli ministers have openly said the televote was manipulated, I don’t think it’s a credible source to use as evidence
I thought NOONE would vote for Kan and all votes were bought. Isn’t that what so many people have been shouting for the last the editions?
As a german i rarely support anything Merz says. But he is totally right here. Israel belongs to Eurovision. You can always protest against war. But the way the radical mob tries to ban jewish people from basically everything is just disgusting. I don’t want my taxpayers money for ARD to be spend on a show that tries to appease these radical protestors.
I am a German too and totally agree here.
I am not German and I think you’re both embarrassing yourselves.
Jews aren’t banned from Eurovision, this is not what the past few months have been about.
but you knew that anyway. Get with the program
Yeah exactly, this crops to banning and attacking Israeli travelers and organizations and buisnesses also admitting to mistreat and banning Jews; e.g citizens of Germany and other countries, like hanging “no entry for…” signs on vetrinas, painting the specific infamous crosses on shipments and Star of David on specific homes, and attacks in the street – verbal and increase of physical attacks.
There are jews in many countries in Europe. Israel does not speak for them. If Germany wants to platform jewish voices, maybe it should stop arresting them any time they speak out against Israel. Or internally select a jewish artist for Eurovision.
Scarlet for both of you’s. Genuinely
No one has ever spoken about Jewish people. The talk is about a broadcaster.
“Despite Merz’s interview, it is ultimately Germany’s broadcaster that will make the decision about its participation.”
The decision isn’t based off of his opinion, it’s based off of the broadcaster itself. One person (who isn’t even part of the German broadcaster) doesn’t represent the whole decision
This could be the first EVER contest without German particpation. A seventy year streak broken. Sad, but their own choice.
Jonas how many posts a day do you leave on this site? Really do you spend all day on this site even when it is not Eurovision season?
It doesn’t take me all day to form a thought and type out a few sentences. I’m sorry if this is the case for you. Keep practicing.
Technically, they missed out once before in 1996, when they were eliminated in the qualifying round. They are not listed as a participant on the Eurovision website
I really doubt anybody will leave if Israel is excluded. Not even Germany
If this is what is going to happen it’s either them or Spain, who has the actual record of consecutive number of ESC participations as Germany missed 1996.
As a German I support Merz’s statement. The threatened ban is nonsense. Hopefully other countries will follow Germany’s lead.
Was banning Russia also nonsense?
This would be Germany’s first time out of the ESC since 1996 (when they failed that pre-qualification). Apart from that they’ve appeared in every Eurovision. I won’t mourn if they leave the contest; despite that one poll many Germans are removing their support for Israel, as they should.
They selected and entered a song for 1996, so really this would be the first time in Eurovision history without Germany’s participation.
Praying for peace to settle and having less drama in the 2026 edition
Germany is always on the wrong side in history.
Only thing i’m gonna say is that would make three times in a row.
Good.
My awakening was rude. We are truly governed by evil people in Germany and Austria. Even here, public opinion has long shifted despite us being gaslit like no other nations on earth when it comes to this topic. These politicians of course don’t know the first thing about Eurovision but now that it serves so well to show their unconditional support for Israel, might as well ruin a 70 year old institution in the process. Sickening. Especially coming from this guy whose government will make sure Germany wakes up with right wing extremism winning the next election. Ruining Germany isn’t… Read more »
Are you German? Just a genuine question out of interest
Great comment.
Like USA, Germany are just incapable of neutral evaluation of Israel’s actions. The legacy of their own role in its history weighs heavily.
I refuse this legacy. We don’t owe them anything.
I think Chancellor Merz also refuses the legacy. Unwittingly and stupidly. The legacy should not be unwavering support for Israel, it should be preventing mass slaughter from ever happening again. FAIL.
Exactly! No baby is ever born with guilt.
Bye Bye, what does Germany even add to eurovision, NOTHING
Do you know what Germany adds besides music – MONEY! And lots of it. If they stop supporting Eurovision, the othrr spinsors would have to pay more…..and they can’t. More importantly- hey they won’t!!
Who cares. Less money means less reliance on LED and perhaps we might need to rely on creative imagination again.
Money. And without our money Eurovision 2027 will be held in a small theatre.
so what, who cares?
let israel-lovers within EBU feel this karma
Pick your poison: a Eurovision without Israel and Germany or a Eurovision without Spain, Ireland, Slovenia, Netherlands, Iceland maybe even Portugal, Belgium and Poland as well.
If Russia was banned from taking part in Euro vision why isn’t Israel? The International Court of Justice has found Israel guilty of commuting war crimes, surely we can show our disgust for what is happening by protest.
Agreed.
Where is the ICJ decision finding anything? Do you even know what you are talking about?