00:00The Eurovision Song Contest is facing pressure from the European Parliament with growing concerns about possible televote manipulation.
00:11Just two weeks after this year's contest concluded, questions over the integrity of the public vote have intensified.
00:18A group of 12 EU lawmakers sent a formal letter to Eurovision's organizer, the European Broadcasting Union, urging the release of full voting data.
00:28The European public deserves full transparency regarding this year's voting process, including the extent of state sponsored advertising and any underclared sponsorship.
00:40The MEP specifically point to the alleged promotion of Israel's entry, reportedly supported by campaigns run by the Israeli government advertising agency.
00:50The controversy is further fueled by a renewed debate over Israel's involvement in the contest, a flashpoint for the second consecutive year.
01:00If the EU fails to act, there is a risk of completely discrediting the Eurovision Song Contest.
01:08And next year, Eurovision, we want to focus on the music, not on scandals.
01:14Ahead of the contest, Eurovision director Martin Green acknowledged in an interview with Euronews that politics inevitably seep into the event.
01:23We're not a political competition. We try and avoid politics.
01:27But of course, if you gather in this year 37 countries from around the world, it will also always prompt discussion and debate.
01:36And that's a good thing.
01:38The MEPs have called on the EBU to also commission an independent audit and implement safeguards to prevent political interference in future contests.
