www.ogaemalta.com
After last Thursday’s disappointing result – Malta’s entry to the Eurovision Song Contest Olivia Lewis was eliminated as most of the songs making it to the final were representing eastern European countries – many were expressing their opinion that the western European countries should unite and take a common stand with the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which is responsible for the organisation of the annual Eurovision Song Contest.
“Malta will not withdraw on its own... just for the sake of withdrawing,” commented Robert Abela, head of the Maltese delegation. “Should there be a stand taken by a number of countries which unite together against the present system, then Malta would join in.”
Mr Abela also agrees that countries such as Cyprus, The Netherlands, Andorra, Switzerland and Malta were “robbed” of their places in the final because of the Eastern European block voting.
The foreign press is of the same opinion. Some are already hinting that countries such as Switzerland and The Netherlands might withdraw from the competition. The Greek website Oikotimes said that Cyprus and Greece might also withdraw.
There is nothing confirmed yet, but the list of withdrawing countries from the 2008 competition might be longer. Countries such as Denmark, Iceland and Norway were very disappointed after Thursday’s result.
The general feeling in Helsinki is that the EBU should do something to avoid such a boycott from the well-established countries of the Eurovision Song Contest. The countries taking part in tonight’s finals of the 52nd edition of the Eurovision Song Contest are;
1. Bosnia & Herzegovina: Maria Sestic – Rijeka Bez Imena
2. Spain: D’Nash – I Love You Mi Vida
3. Belarus: Koldun – Work Your Magic
4. Ireland: Dervish – They Can’t Stop The Spring
5. Finland: Hanna Pakarinen – Leave Me Alone
6. FYR Macedonia: Karolina – Mojot Svet
7. Slovenia: Alenka Gotar – Cvet Z Juga
8. Hungary: Magdi Ruzsa – Unsubstantial Blues
9. Lithuania: 4Fun – Love Or Leave
10. Greece: Sarbel – Yassou Maria
11. Georgia: Sopho – Visionary Dream
12. Sweden: The Ark – The Worrying Kind
13. France: Les Fatals Picards – L’amour À La Française
14. Latvia: Bonaparti.lv – Questa Notte
15. Russia: Sererbro – Song #1
16. Germany: Roger Cicero – Frauen Regier’n Die Welt
17. Serbia: Marija Serifovic – Molitva
18. Ukraine: Verka Serduchka – Dancing Lasha Tumbai
19. United Kingdom: Scooch – Flying The Flag (For You)
20. Romania: Todomondo – Liubi, Liubi, I Love You
21. Bulgaria: Elitsa Todorova & Stoyan Yankoulov – Water
22. Turkey: Kenan Dogulu – Shake It Up, Shekerim
23. Armenia: Hayko – Anytime You Need
24. Moldova: Natalia Barbu – Fight
The betting foresees a battle between Ukraine and Serbia.
Although Malta will not participate in the competition, televoting lines will still be open for the Maltese public to cast their votes.
Antonia Micallef will comment the show for PBS while Mireille Bonello will read the votes of the Maltese televoting.