Belgium’s CD&V party has urged the Flemish government and broadcasters VRT and RTBF to take a stance on Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026, calling for the country to be excluded.
CD&V: “A celebration, not a propaganda channel”
According to HLN, CD&V member of the Flemish Parliament Gilles Bultinck stated that the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) should apply the same standard to Israel as it did to Russia in 2022. At the time, Russia was banned following its invasion of Ukraine.
“The same consistent line must be applied to all countries that deliberately commit large-scale violations of international law and human rights. Israel therefore has no place at Eurovision,”
Bultinck said, adding that the Contest should remain a European celebration rather than “a propaganda channel.”
Appeal to Belgian broadcasters
CD&V is calling on both VRT and RTBF to join other European broadcasters in demanding Israel’s exclusion. Bultinck emphasised that Eurovision must remain a long-standing European tradition “for and by Europeans.”
Meanwhile, RTBF (responsible for Belgium’s 2026 entry) confirmed preparations are ongoing. However, spokesperson Axelle Pollet said no final decision on participation will be made until December, following the EBU’s General Assembly.
Belgium’s Eurovision journey
Belgium was one of the debutant countries at the beginning of the Eurovision Song Contest back in 1956. For the first edition, countries could submit two songs, and for Belgium that year, ‘Messieurs les noyès de la Seine’ by Fud Leclerc and ‘Le plus beau jour de ma vie’ by Mony Marc represented the nation. To this day, we do not know the final results of Eurovision 1956. Belgium have taken part in 64 Eurovision Song Contests; however, they have only ever won once: in 1986 with Sandra Kim and the song ‘J’amie la vie’, scoring 176 points.
Belgium chose Red Sebastian to represent the nation with “Strobe Lights” in 2025. Competing in the first semi-final, Belgium scored 23 points, placing fourteenth and ultimately missing out on the Grand Final for the second year in a row.
Do you think Belgium should join calls to exclude Israel from Eurovision 2026, or should broadcasters continue preparations as planned? As always, please let us know what you think by getting involved in the comments below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, Threads, tumblr, and Bluesky for more information about Eurovision 2026!
News source: HLN
Photo credit: Corinne Cumming / EBU
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