In its most controversial year, and with the fewest participants since 2004, the Eurovision Festival is playing its future this Saturday with a ceremony in which Finland is the big favorite according to the bookmakers, thanks to the duo of violinist Linda Lampenius and singer Pete Parkkonen performing Liekinheitin, which means “flamethrower” in Spanish. If they win, an uncertain possibility would open that Israel and the public broadcaster KAN decide not to participate in the next edition of the contest due to their tension with the Scandinavian country.
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Predictions give Finland more than 50% chance of winning over the other 25 performances, a figure that has improved since their performance in the first semifinal last Tuesday. The Israeli candidate, Noam Bettam and his Michelle, on the other hand, appears fourth in the bets, below Australia and Greece, momentarily distancing the ghost that looms over many eurofans and the European Broadcasting Union, organizer of Eurovision: that a controversial country wins, one whose participation in the contest has caused five countries (including Spain) to withdraw and whose strategies have forced rule changes.
If that situation occurs, their victory would open the door for Israel to have the authority to organize Eurovision. This, after it has been confirmed that 72,736 people have died from Israeli fire in the Gaza Strip since October 2023, according to the latest report.
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In any case, second place is currently held by Australia, one of the most fanatical Eurovision countries and a full participant since 2015, with an international pop star like Delta Goodrem and her song Eclipse. The singer has sold nearly 10 million records worldwide, with triple platinum in the United Kingdom.
Greece holds third place to emerge victorious from the stage in Vienna (Austria) with Akylasy’s tiger animal print Ferto, the fun option of this edition.
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