In an open letter addressed to the president of the RTP Board of Directors, Nicolau Santos, the Minister of Foreign Affairs Paulo Rangel, and the Minister of Culture Margarida Balseiro Lopes, the workers are calling for a boycott of Israel’s participation in Eurovision 2026.
The employees of RTP state that they cannot be complicit in cultural normalization practices that go against fundamental values such as human dignity, human rights, and international law.
“Allowing Israel’s participation in an event presented as a celebration of peace, diversity, and unity among peoples constitutes an affront to the victims, an attempt to whitewash crimes, and a cultural instrumentalization that the Portuguese public service must not, cannot, and will not legitimize.”
In the letter, they recall that in December, during a general staff meeting, they had already expressed in writing their rejection of the position of the RTP Board President at the EBU (European Broadcasting Union) General Assembly, for agreeing to maintain Israel’s participation in the contest.
“From that moment on, and in an incomprehensible way given the worsening humanitarian situation and international law, that decision has remained unchanged, ignoring the position expressed by public service workers.”
RTP workers state that culture should not be used for whitewashing
In their letter, employees of the Portuguese public broadcaster recall that in 2022 RTP supported the EBU decision to expel Russia from the contest following the invasion of Ukraine.
“Today, in light of the succession of events in the Middle East, which include extreme violence against civilians, mass forced displacement, deliberate destruction of civilian infrastructure, and constant disinformation campaigns, it is not possible to remain silent.”
Therefore, the workers call for RTP to not participate in or broadcast the festival as long as situations persist that involve serious human rights violations, which they claim are being ignored by the EBU.
They also demand that the Portuguese public broadcaster make it clear, through this gesture, that culture must not be used to whitewash crimes or divert attention from internationally condemned actions.
“Let this decision be understood as an ethical commitment to populations who are victims of violence, displacement, and persecution.”
They also emphasize that the proposed boycott is not an act of cultural censorship, but rather an act of moral responsibility in the face of genocidal policies committed by the State of Israel.
The 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will take place in just one week in Austria, is once again marked by the participation of Israel, whose presence has been questioned due to the conflict in the Gaza Strip.
This year, 35 countries will participate, following the withdrawals of Slovenia, Spain, Ireland, Iceland, and the Netherlands in protest against Israel’s participation in the contest.
In April, more than 1,100 musicians, bands, and cultural professionals from several countries, including Portuguese participants, had already signed an open letter calling for a boycott of the contest over Israel’s participation.