Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez speaks during a joint press conference with World Health Organization (WHO) Director-General at the Moncloa Palace in Madrid, May 12, 2026. (AFP Photo)
May 15, 2026 08:26 PM GMT+03:00
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez defended his country’s boycott of the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest on Friday, calling Israeli aggression “genocide” and arguing that Spain could not stay silent over the violence in Gaza and Lebanon.
“In the face of illegal war and genocide, silence is not an option,” Sanchez said Friday in a video message shared on X. “We cannot remain indifferent to what continues to happen in Gaza and Lebanon.”
Sanchez described the boycott as “consistent and necessary” and framed it as part of Spain’s position on international conflicts.
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Sanchez rejects ‘double standards’ over Israel
Spain joined Iceland, Ireland, the Netherlands and Slovenia in refusing to participate in this year’s contest to protest Israel’s inclusion in the tournament amid the Gaza crisis.
Sanchez drew parallels between Israel’s participation in Eurovision and Russia’s exclusion from the competition following its invasion of Ukraine.
“When Russia invaded Ukraine, it was barred from the contest, and Spain supported that decision,” he said. “Those principles must also apply when we talk about Israel. There can be no double standards.”
He also referred to the International Criminal Court’s 2024 arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity linked to the Gaza offensive.
Spain stands ‘on right side of history’
Sanchez stated that Spain traditionally supported Eurovision because the contest was created to promote peace and celebrate Europe’s diversity, but said the ongoing war required a different response.
He said Spain’s absence from the event reflected the country’s commitment to human rights and international law, arguing that cultural platforms should not remain detached from major humanitarian crises.
The Spanish premier added that although Spain would not be in Vienna for the competition, the country believed it was “on the right side of history.”
The 2026 Eurovision Song Contest began on May 12, with the Grand Final scheduled for Saturday in Vienna.
Organized by the European Broadcasting Union, the annual competition regularly attracts more than 150 million viewers worldwide. Israel’s act remains among the contestants despite boycott calls and criticism from several participating countries.
May 15, 2026 08:33 PM GMT+03:00
