/s3/static.nrc.nl/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/1591093b-2de8-4704-9596-5f001d2e5d33.jpg "Switzerland wins the Eurovision Song Contest with the song “The Code”")
Switzerland won the 68th Eurovision Song Contest. Swiss singer Nemo received a total of 591 points for his song “The Code”, including 365 points from the professional jury. Favorite Croatia came in second place, and Ukraine came in third. Dutch participant Joost Klein was disqualified earlier in the day.
The Dutch jury gave the highest number of points to Switzerland. Niki de Jager was supposed to read it, but withdrew due to the uproar surrounding Joost Klein's exclusion. The Dutch public placed Israel in first place with twelve points.
Israel rarely received any points from professional juries, and was booed when she read the scores herself. The country seemed popular with the audience: more than 300 points were awarded to Israeli singer Eden Golan, resulting in the country finishing in fifth place.
This is the third time that Switzerland has won the festival. The last time was in 1988, when Celine Dion won the festival. Singer Nemo is the first non-binary winner of the Eurovision Song Contest.
Demonstrations in Malmö
Before the final, pro-Palestinian protesters attempted to block the entrance to Malmö Stadium and chanted “shame on you” as the visitors arrived, according to reporters from Aftonbladet newspaper. When the weather became dangerous, the police moved in. Tear gas was used, among other things.
After the Luxembourg group sang their song, it was supposed to be Jost Klein's turn in fifth place. Because of his controversial exclusion, Israeli Eden Golan actually took the stage. Her entry was greeted with cheers and applause. Although there were demonstrations at the Malmo Arena in recent days and pro-Palestinian action groups called on the EU to boycott Israel, the Golan was in second place among the bettors ahead of the final.
The Golan was not only booed. Part of the audience also expressed their dissatisfaction with floor manager Henrik von Zweigbergeck. This had a lot to do with Klein's exclusion. “I don't realize this at all and I've been participating in the Eurovision Song Contest for a long time,” von Zweigberg said afterwards. Eurovision president Martin Österdahl also heard boos and whistles when he took the floor after the performances.
Meanwhile, it remained noisy outside. Many police officers remained on their feet around the stadium. They took climate activist Greta Thunberg with them in the early evening, and she was spotted there again a few hours later. She was among a group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators. During the final, there was also a demonstration inside the hall: for example, Irishman Bambi Thug raised a piece of watermelon, which symbolizes solidarity with Palestine.
