🇧🇪 VRT’s unions seek to strike during Eurovision 2027

With Belgium’s VRT confirming participation at Eurovision 2027 earlier this week, a sharp response has arisen in Belgium with several unions threatening to disrupt the country’s broadcast of the contest next year.

Backlash to VRT’s decision to participate

Prior to this year’s contest, VRT had been one of the most vocal opponents to Israeli participation in the contest, with the Belgian broadcaster continuing to call the country’s inclusion in the contest into question. Even going so far as to withdraw plans to send a commentary team to Vienna to cover last year’s contest. Such vocal criticism to the contest resulted in shock to many in the country when it was revealed that Belgium will participate in Bulgaria next year.

Two trade unions for VRT, ACV VRT and ACOD-VRT, have announced that they wish to strike during the contest to “protect all employees who have moral objections to contribute from far or near to the programs and broadcasts of and about the Eurovision Song Contest”. They seek to call these strikes during the semi finals and final of the contest in hopes of persuading VRT to reverse its decision to participate. Broadcasters have until mid-October to withdraw without facing financial penalties.

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 ESSYLA to represent the nation with “Dancing on the Ice” in 2026. Competing in the first semi-final, Belgium qualified for the final, placing 21st and earning a total of 36 points, all of which came from the professional jury.

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Source: vrt

Photo credit: vrt