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Greece’s leftist opposition party, SYRIZA, has called on the government to withdraw from the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest, criticizing Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis’ refusal to join a growing list of European countries boycotting the event over Israel’s participation amid the war in Gaza.
In a statement Wednesday, SYRIZA accused the conservative government of aligning itself with what it called the "murderous Netanyahu regime" and urged it to immediately sever what it described as a misguided strategic partnership with Israel.
“While a number of European countries (Ireland, Spain, the Netherlands and Slovenia) are withdrawing from the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest in protest of Israel's participation, the Mitsotakis government refuses to proceed with this decision,” the statement said.
The party criticized the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for allowing Israel to remain in the competition, calling on Greece’s public broadcaster ERT to pull out in protest.
“Elementary respect for the people of Palestine and the suffering they face requires Greece to distance itself from the recent decision of the EBU, which opened the way for Israel's participation,” SYRIZA said. “ERT must withdraw from Eurovision.”
Swiss singer Nemo, who won the 2024 contest, announced Thursday that they had returned the Eurovision trophy in protest of Israel’s continued inclusion.
“I no longer feel like this trophy belongs on my shelf,” Nemo wrote on Instagram. “Eurovision says it stands for unity, inclusion, and dignity for all people. But Israel's continued participation, during what the U.N.’s Commission of Inquiry has concluded to be a genocide — shows a clear conflict between those ideals and the decisions the EBU is making.”
Nemo said the trophy was being returned to EBU headquarters in Geneva with a clear message: "Live what you claim. If the values we celebrate onstage aren’t lived offstage, then even the most beautiful songs become meaningless.”
The European Broadcasting Union, which organizes the contest, announced on Dec. 4 that no vote was needed to include Israel in the 2026 competition, despite growing opposition across Europe.
Several public broadcasters, including those in Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, the Netherlands and Iceland, have since announced they will not take part in the 70th edition of the song contest, scheduled to take place in Vienna in May.
“When entire countries withdraw, it should be very clear that something is deeply wrong,” Nemo added.
The 2025 edition of Eurovision, held in Basel, Switzerland, featured 37 participants and was won by Austrian operatic singer JJ with “Wasted Love.” Around 35 countries are expected to take part in the 2026 contest in Vienna.
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