The 69th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Basel, Switzerland, concluded with Austria's JJ winning with the operatic ballad "Wasted Love" on May 17, 2025. However, Austria's victory has been somewhat overshadowed by widespread concerns regarding the voting process, leading to calls for a review by multiple national broadcasters.
Several countries, including Spain, Belgium, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, and Norway, have voiced their concerns to the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) about potential voting irregularities. These concerns arose after Israel's Yuval Raphael topped the public vote but finished second overall, prompting questions about the fairness and transparency of the voting system. Some broadcasters pointed to the rule allowing each viewer to cast up to 20 votes as a potential source of manipulation.
The EBU has addressed these concerns, with Eurovision director Martin Green emphasizing the robustness of the voting procedures and the involvement of partners like Once Germany GmbH and independent compliance monitor EY. Despite these assurances, the EBU has committed to a comprehensive review of the voting system, engaging with participating broadcasters to address their concerns and ensure the integrity of future contests. The controversy has sparked discussions about potential reforms to the voting system to maintain fairness and prevent undue influence.