“A technical glitch.” This is how Rai explains the error whereby yesterday evening, on the closing credits of the second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest, superimposed on Rai2, the televoting percentages were broadcast on video: Israel in the lead with 39.31%, in second place the Netherlands placed with 7.32%.
“Completely partial data”, specifies Viale Mazzini, aware however of having violated the competition regulations, which provide for the disclosure of the results only at the end of the competition, to avoid influencing the public in any way before the final response.
Hence the apology and the commitment “to fully respect all the rules for the rest of the event”. The EBU, which organizes the show, assures that the vote collected by Italy is “valid”, confirms that it was “an error” and that “the information was incomplete”, but also reminds Italian public television of the need to “review its procedures to ensure that all rules and protocols are followed to protect the integrity of the vote.”
And above all, a further evaluation is reserved at the end of the match, therefore not excluding possible disciplinary measures. Codacons is also moving, with a complaint to the European Broadcasting Union itself and to Agcom. A mess that animates the eve of the final, broadcast live tomorrow on Rai1, Radio2 and RaiPlay from the Malmo Arena. Italy’s eyes are on Angelina Mango, who set the show on fire with the cumbia rhythm of her Noia, the song with which she won at Sanremo 2024. And who in the meantime allowed herself an unscheduled break in the press room, improvising Imagine guitar by John Lennon: “I’m here because I would really like to express my thoughts in my own way with my own words”, she underlined excitedly. “When I came here I saw artists just like me who live for their music and speak through their music. Last night I performed on that beautiful Eurovision stage with my heart full of love. I went to bed like this proud of myself and of all of us. Now I want to let the music speak.” But the attention is also on Israel: the singer Eden Golan gained access to the final, accompanied by boos among the audience and protests in the streets of Malmo against the decision to include the State in the musical contest despite the continuation of the military campaign in Gaza. Israel was admitted to Eurovision after agreeing to change the lyrics of the song October Rain – a ballad which contained references to the Hamas attacks on 7 October and which the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) deemed in violation of the political neutrality of the competition – later became Hurricane. “Not only are you competing in Eurovision in a proud and impressive way, but you are competing successfully in the face of an ugly wave of anti-Semitism: and you are resisting this by representing the State of Israel with enormous honor,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu complimented the artist, while the Israeli media also reported that 39% of preferences came from Italy. According to the latest bookmaker forecasts, in the grid of favourites, immediately behind Croatia, with Rim Tim Tagi Dim proposed by Baby Lasagna, there is Eden Golan with Hurricane. Meanwhile, the case of Dutch singer Joost Klein, who missed the rehearsals for the final, also opens. “We are currently investigating an incident reported to us involving the Dutch artist. The artist will not be rehearsing until further notice. We have no further comment at this time and will update in due course,” the statement said. Ebu.
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