Eurovision's 'bearded lady' victory sign of European 'decadence'
PR dla Zagranicy
Peter Gentle
12.05.2014 07:30
Leader of Poland's conservative opposition Law and Justice party Jaroslaw Kaczynski says Conchita Wurst's victory in the Eurovision Song Contest is proof of the “collapse of modern Europe”.
Conchita Wurst representing Austria poses with the trophy after winning the Eurovision Song Contest 2014 Grand Final in Copenhagen, Denmark, 10 May: photo - EPA/FLINDT MOGENS
“Very disturbing things are happening in Europe which show its decadence and collapse,” Jaroslaw Kaczynski said after 'Rise Like a Phoenix' by Austria's 25 year-old Conchita Wurst – real name Thomas Neuwirth – won the yearly festival of camp and kietch in Copenhagen on Saturday.
According to Kaczynski, who leads Poland's largest opposition party, the victory by the Austrian man with a beard results from "all kinds of propaganda aimed at bluring the differences between men and women and creating a model of life where a person can change everything, including whether they are male or female,” he is quoted by the TVN24 news station as saying.
An estimated 180 million from 45 countries watched the contest at the weekend, but Kaczynski was not alone in condemning Ms. Wurst's victory.
Vitaly Milonov, a Russian politician known as a force behind Moscow's anti gay laws, called the performer "sick" in a Danish newspaper interview.
Wurst was asked by reporters after his win if he would like to say anything to Russian President Vladimir Putin.
"I don't know if he's watching, but if so, I say we are unstoppable. I really dream of a world where we don't have to talk about unnecessary things like sexuality, where you're from, who you love,” he told reporters.
Donatan & Cleo representing Poland perform during Grand Final of the 59th annual Eurovision Song Contest (ESC) at the B&W Hallerne in Copenhagen: photo - EPA/JOERG CARSTENSEN
Poland's Donatan & Cleo, who belted out sexually suggestive lyrics in their 'We are Slavic' took 14th place, though the UK public ranked the song as number one on the night in text voting.
Poland's jury and voters plumped for the Dutch entry as being the best, with the Austrian entry only managing 11th place in the combined voting system. (pg)
Full results here