Sánchez supports the “coherent” decision not to participate in Eurovision to be “on the right side of history”

The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has supported the decision of Spanish Radio Television (RTVE) not to participate in the Eurovision Song Contest in protest at the presence of Israel. A decision that he described as “coherent” to “stand up to injustice” because “silence is not an option” in the face of “genocide.”

“Our commitment to human rights, to international legality, is also expressed through culture,” Sánchez assured this Friday through his social networks to justify Spain’s absence in the contest. “We will do so with the conviction of being on the right side of history,” he insisted, and stated that Spain cannot remain “indifferent” to “what continues to happen in Gaza and Lebanon.”

The head of the Executive has once again recalled that Russia was “removed” from the festival when it “invaded Ukraine”: “Spain supported this decision.” And he has asked that “those principles” also be applied “when we talk about Israel.” “There can be no double standards.”

“Spain has always been committed to this festival, which was born precisely to promote peace, to bring us closer and to celebrate the diversity of the European continent,” he stated before highlighting the absence of other countries such as Ireland, Iceland, the Netherlands and Slovenia, which will also not attend the contest due to the presence of Israel.

Finally, the president has maintained that “many fans” have “walked away” from the festival and has once again demanded a decision based on “coherence, responsibility and humanity.”