On Wednesday Ukraine’s state broadcaster confirmed that it has the right to choose Alina Pash’s Eurovision 2022 replacement from among the seven other Vidbir 2022 finalists. That’s after her withdrawal on Wednesday after it emerged someone on her team had forged travel documents regarding her 2015 trip to Crimea.
As our readers have pointed out, their statement implied that they aren’t automatically going to choose Vidbir runners-up Kalush Orchestra, who won the televote and came third with the jury.
This brings up an obvious question: Who do you want to see replace Alina and head to Eurovision 2022 for Ukraine?
Ukraine will choose its Eurovision 2022 artist on Friday. Suspilne’s general director Dmytro Khorkin has said that the broadcaster is committed to sending an artist to Eurovision in Turin.
As with the broadcaster’s earlier statement, his language made it clear that producers can choose any of the Vidbir finalists, regardless of their rank position.
“We have to wait for the next meeting of the organising committee, where this issue will be determined. In practice, one of the finalists will be chosen to go to Eurovision.
In case you aren’t up to speed on all of the twists and turns that have taken place over the past week, you can start by reading the article below.
I know that Kalush Orchestra is the “runner up” but I don’t like it – the group, the song …sorry. For me the star of Ukraine is Roxolana.
I don’t know. I’m just Tired, and don’t want this controversy to keep going on. Objectively Kalush should go as runner-up but if the drama will just keep going, Ukraine would just be better off withdrawing and trying again next year.
I think it’s so wrong to dismiss a young lady’s voice for a simple trip to a place in your own country.
Being a Producer you make me sick to hurt a dream & talent as hers.
Michael Soul, Cloudless or Barleben, of course 😉
Roxolana is in my playlist but boy she wasn’t great live. I also doubt that anyone beside Kalush will accept the offer.
Id chose none if it were an option
Kalush would make sense, but I’m not sure that they would even want to bother going anymore bc they weren’t happy with the broadcaster. I also wasn’t a fan of their behaviour after the show. If they say no, Wellboy already said no, so then I think it should go to Roxolana (my fave!)
The only choice beside total withdrawal is Kalush. Everyone else will not go. Wellboy already said no. And there would be massive pushback against anyone else going when they come back to Ukraine and need to perform in the future. Kalush will also have problems but maybe they think the exposure is worth the hate.
While I usually disagree with having the option “none” in the polls – here it should be included. Or even the option – “I think they should withdraw”
None. The entire debacle has become distasteful, shameful and disrespectful. Ukraine needs to sort out internal issues desperately, they need to pull out for the year and maybe subsequent years until all Ukrainian citizens including Crimeans can enter pre-selection without any stigma until then we will go through BS like this.
I would also add Russia not competing for a few years until they back off from Ukraine and sort out their own internal issues.
What exactly did the Russian broadcaster do wrong, besides sending Kirkorov?
Talking in a more broader sense, we have watched the Ukraine-Russia melodrama for 8-9 years now, every year there is tremendous animosity to the Russian delegation and artists in the form of harassment and booing. Given all that is going on and that we are just about getting a grip on how to navigate the COVID-19 variants, we do not need more Eastern European drama to add on top of that, we had to expel Belarus last year (for entirely necessary reasons) we cannot keep rehashing the same dramas year in year out and bring the contest apolitical nature in… Read more »
Lots of eastern european countries need democratic reforms of their governing structure. Having dictators within europe in this age is just plain ugly
Question: did the broadcaster want to win in 2016? do they wanna win again to stick it to russia? Do they like organizing it? 2017 would suggest no. Or could it be that they were afraid of winning again and are relieved Alina is out? Does anyone have inside info?
They would most definitely not win with that song.
It should be Kalush Orchestra otherwise why not just internally select someone to begin with. You can’t just dismiss who the televoters wanted.
2nd place, or televote winner.
The answer to both is Kalush
M I H A I, it is your time to shine, hahahah
Who I want to go? Roxolana
Who should go ? Kalush Orchestra
None, all were awful and it’s time to say no to this broadcasters way of doing a national selection. Go for internal and avoid the drama next year, bye bye!
none, their broadcaster’s behavior is unacceptable and they should withdraw
The broadcaster is unacceptable. So is forging documents.
Broadcaster is not transparent – they did same in 2010 and 2019 …. They pick winner before competition … and usually Its all rigged … I love Ukraine and their song usually but we dont need Belarus 2.0 …
Delusional.
Anyone can replace Alina Pash, as long as their song is good and finalist material. Kalush works. Michael Soul is also a good way to go.
But seriousy I won’t be surprisedbif they send Jamala with some random song
Then i sincerely hope she gets lost in the semi and Ukraine loses its record.
Yeah – song “ Is Crimea – Ukraine fr Maruv
2nd place or withdraw
Should be option “Ukraine should withdraw from Eurovision 2022”. Wonder why before whole selection they don’t check this Crimea travels which causing so many problems? Surely they would save each other time.
We dont need 41 countries every Year … lets just be honest
Lolita Zero
Lolita Zero featuring Verka Serduchka
I’m not Your Mamo
Make it happen and take my money, I’d pay a liver to see that
I’m afraid all my hopes are, like, hopeless…
my thoughts exactly about stefania. i can’t bring myself to supporting the kaloser orchestra. in italy we have a few interesting sayings about snitches !
Ngl i really like kalush’s song but their behaviour after the show was just nasty so i’m in between
Maruv 😛
She is pregnant now
Michael Soul
Shadows of forced withdrawals
Just please have mercy and keep Jamala in Ukraine.
Whoever won the vote. If Alina really won, then 2nd place. If the vote can’t be trusted, then the broadcaster will just pick anyone at random anyway. Oh wait, he’s already doing that. lol
The only fair answer would be the runners-up, who are Kalush Orchestra.
Choose any other act, and there would be yet another scandal hovering over this infamous Ukrainian national final.
The only fair and right answer would be nobody.
How a national selection becomes an internal selection… 😀
2nd place so KALUSH. They also won the televote. Only makes sense.
2nd place holder. It would be only fair.