wrs

The grand final of Eurovision 2022 was on. And at 20 past midnight Turin time — just before the voting segment launched — the EBU released the following statement, suggesting more than a bit of behind-the-scenes drama. 

STATEMENT FROM THE EUROPEAN BROADCASTING UNION

“In the analysis of jury voting by the European Broadcasting Union’s (EBU) pan-European voting partner after the Second Dress Rehearsal of the Second Semi-Final of the 2022 Eurovision Song Contest, certain irregular voting patterns were identified in the results of six countries.”

“In order to comply with the Contest’s Voting Instructions, the EBU worked with its voting partner to calculate a substitute aggregated result for each country concerned for both the Second-Semi Final and the Grand Final (calculated based on the results of other countries with similar voting records).”

“This process was acknowledged by the Independent Voting Monitor.”

“The EBU takes any suspected attempts to manipulate the voting at the Eurovision Song Contest extremely seriously and has the right to remove such votes in accordance with the Official Voting Instructions, irrespective of whether or not such votes are likely to influence the results and/or outcome of the voting.”

Update on 16 May. The EBU still hasn’t confirmed which six countries demonstrated the irregular voting. However, if you scroll through the results on the official Eurovision web site, there are exactly six countries whose jury member names are not listed. They are: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, and San Marino. Curiously, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Romania had “technical difficulties” during the broadcast and could not reveal their points, so they were instead read by Executive Supervisor Martin Osterdahl. 

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Felix
Felix
2 years ago

I’m extremely intrigued by the fact that WRS didn’t receive enough votes. The song that was sang by thw whole audience and got the most likes on fb during the final, went on to finish 18th.
Also, them taking points from Moldova and giving them “randomly” to Ukraine, UK and Sweden.
I hope that in the next edition either they decide it ONLY by fan’s voting or Romania quitting this pilitical nonsense once and for all.
They say patterns ? WTF. Sweden could put an artist to fart on the scene and still get in the first 5. And others…

eli
eli
2 years ago

I really don’t get the point of some comments here. Let’s ban Azerbaijan they did ethnic cleansing, let’s ban Romania they are not European enough?!! Are you really aware of what you are writing? Then, let’s ban Germany because we all know what happened in the 1940s. Let’s ban Sweden because they sell so many guns. Also, let’s ban some other countries too because of their history. If we start making a list of crimes of every country, there will be no country left to be in a SONG competition. Every country has its own rights and wrongs. You cannot… Read more »

Felix
Felix
2 years ago
Reply to  eli

My friend, I get the sarcasm, but not even by joke somebody can say that Romania is not European enough. ?

Elena
Elena
2 years ago
Reply to  eli

Most of the comments are about RIGGING & CORRUPTION IN THE COMPETITION. I don’t really see any racist remarks. I’m guessing you’re from Azerbaijan and you’re upset your government and/or delegation has been playing these dirty games for years. AGAIN, NOTHING TO DO WITH RACISM.

Chris
Chris
2 years ago

Ukraine were rubbish, the public are just sheep.

Jeff M
Jeff M
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

what a dumb ass.

Lesley.
Lesley.
2 years ago
Reply to  Chris

I was not a particular fan of it but it was alright.

Marion Howard
Marion Howard
2 years ago

If anyone was robbed it was Sheldon Riley he gave a great performance and if it went by talent he should have one .Europe did not even give him 12 points not one of them I’m ashamed they kept it amounts them selfes he was by far popular in Europe all over the place and only received 2% votes I can’t believe this it needs to be looked into and not to mention the rest of the talent there robbed of there dreams it’s wrong if fraud has been done they need to have it all over again and kick… Read more »

Dan
Dan
2 years ago
Reply to  Marion Howard

‘im not the same, im not the same, im not the same’, Sheldon can sing and that outfit was exceptional but good lord that song was uninspiredly blunt, the performance with the removal of the veil was a tired metaphor… and a bit tonedeaf to the rest of the competition…. this is eurovision, its basically an LGBT+ festival, you’re not different, we’re not different… the show is unity, we are the same

Lesley.
Lesley.
2 years ago
Reply to  Dan

The song was about being autistic, you can hear the artist speak about it themselves if you like if you look it up, they originally got diagnosed at 6 and told that they would not be able to do a lot so in that way they are different also the song was not specifically written for Eurovision, they wrote it a few years ago.
Masking is also a big thing among autistics, but you can interpret the song however way you like that is just what the writer meant.

flyaway
flyaway
2 years ago

Australia is not the kind of people that would bribe juries!

Jay
Jay
2 years ago

Clearly, democracy and freedom speech are not something admins of this forum exercise. None of my previous posts been published?
People don’t lime hearing the truth said straight

majora
majora
2 years ago

I loved (in no particulair order) UK, Armenia, Zweden, Moldova, Ukraine.
I would feel so ashamed if my country would ever sent an entry like Spain.
And I hope tjhat if my country ever is in war, we focus on food and not ESC

Satsuma
Satsuma
2 years ago
Reply to  majora

Shame? For doing a great performance? I see some jealous fat ass kid here lol

majora
majora
2 years ago

I’m Dutch. I don’t understand why UK and whining Australia think we are the top 5 worst entry..
I don’t understand how Malta and Azarbadian in the past got away with there fraud.

I don’t understand why you participate in ESC while your country is in pieces

Simon
Simon
2 years ago

Why is Azerbaijan even ALLOWED to participate!! They should be banned for life. They are known to cheat every single time. I mean let’s be real Azerbaijan shouldn’t even be allowed in Eurovision for numerous things. Dictatorship, Genocidal policies, extreme racism, non European culture. On top of all that they bribe cheat and do everything to ruin this whole thing. It’s disgusting.

Kristof
Kristof
2 years ago
Reply to  Simon

Caviar diplomacy my friend. They’ve been playing this game ever since they started participating in ESC.

John
John
2 years ago

The good old days of talented performers with catchy tunes winning on Eurovision is long gone. Let’s make it interesting & open this corrupt comp world wide & call it “Worldvision”. That’s when we will see politics, greed & corruption at its best.

Midnight Gold
Midnight Gold
2 years ago

Extremely glad that hopeless, communist-era relic TVR got put in its place, just what they deserve.

SamiS
SamiS
2 years ago
Reply to  Midnight Gold

You just did not understand anything!

Midnight Gold
Midnight Gold
2 years ago
Reply to  SamiS

Even if they did nothing wrong, I’m still glad our juries’ scores were replaced by the algorithm because they’re usually clueless enough to give people like Jendrik points (last year is proof) and I’m tired of Moldova getting 12 points by default no matter what they send.

addriaann
addriaann
2 years ago
Reply to  Midnight Gold

“Instead an “aggregated result” for each country was calculated and used instead. The aggregated result was calculated based on the results of other countries with “similar voting records”

In other words: Because your votes were not similar to other countries, we removed your votes and replaced them accordingly with our (EBU) will! OMG!!! This is tyranny!!!
EBU, to what extent did you use your power to alter the votes and manipulate the results???

Midnight Gold
Midnight Gold
2 years ago
Reply to  addriaann

I’d rather have the algorithm decide our jury results than absolute airheads like M I H A I Traistariu, scuze.

Jonas
Jonas
2 years ago

Does anybody still actually believe that Azerbaijan actually won in 2011?

John Mason
2 years ago
Reply to  Jonas

I am almost sure that your armenian. I guys just are so greedy.

John
John
2 years ago

Let’s just say the good old days of talented performers with catchy tunes winning on Eurovision is long gone. Eurovision has been replaced with greed & politics. Let’s make it more interesting & open this corrupt comp & call it “Worldvision”. Let’s allow every country to apply. That’s when we will see politics & corruption at its best.

Helen
2 years ago

I am really disappointed about what happened with the votes in this contest!Shame on you!!!!!?

Bruh man
2 years ago

Poor Azerbaijan they where so good

MJ85
MJ85
2 years ago

So if don’t count the votes of those juries then Spain would have been second instead of UK… interesting!
A better solution, instead of making up some votes comparing other countries, it could have been to take the televotes from each country and use it as their jury votes as well. In that case, once again Spain would have been second. What a mess EBU, what a mess!

Daniel
Daniel
2 years ago
Reply to  MJ85

Then there will not be as many jury groups as the viewers.
San Marino would only have one jury

MJ85
MJ85
2 years ago
Reply to  Daniel

I said that they could have copied the televotes as jury votes, I guess it represents better the country than an invented thing…

Lee Fearn
Lee Fearn
2 years ago
Reply to  MJ85

The result would have been exactly the same.

Satsuma
Satsuma
2 years ago
Reply to  Lee Fearn

no Spain could have been second cause uk receive 8 pts from a jury that never vote for them

majora
majora
2 years ago
Reply to  MJ85

I hated Spain soooo much

Satsuma
Satsuma
2 years ago
Reply to  majora

yes we do understand, you are a crazy kid, but we don’t care and you can cry

Elizabeth
Elizabeth
2 years ago

this statement sound so fishy. In 2019, we knew the Belarusian votes were discarded and that it was done because the Jurors were sharing their opinions amongst themselves instead of doing the required secret ballot. This year? six countries who shall not be named had their votes discarded for non-specified irregularities. The only country we seem to know this happened to for sure is Romania, because it got out to the press. We suspect Georgia and Azerbaijan because they did not present their points themselves, nor was the usual “connection bad, we will try again later” technical problem featured in… Read more »

kia
kia
2 years ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

those 6 countries are romania, moldova, azerbaijan, poland, san marino and muntenegro. at least that’s what i’ve seen in the press

Daniel
Daniel
2 years ago
Reply to  Elizabeth

I think the Greek jury’s points were also settled this year but they managed for some reason.
Even last year, I think their jury had pacts

Ugnius
Ugnius
2 years ago

Last year Polish jury gave 12 points to San Marino and San Marinese jury gave 12 points to Poland (in the SF)

This year both Polish and San Marinese juries are relegated due to “voting irregularities”

Coincidence ? I don’t think so

Refe
Refe
2 years ago
Reply to  Ugnius

It might be just coincidence since there is no proof.

Mognad
Mognad
2 years ago

A solution to Eastern block gimmicks, would be to include new countries to the ESC, like the US and Canada.

Natalia
Natalia
2 years ago

I wonder if the reason was that they didn’t have in their top 10 countries such as Switzerland, Belgium, Australia and by mistake they voted for/gave too much points to Moldova, Poland or other country which actually deserved points from jury….
So pissed at jury …

Pierluigi
Pierluigi
2 years ago

Oh so the spokespersons from Georgia, Azerbaijan and Romania didn’t show up for protesting against EBU for the disqualification of their juries. I thought it was a technical problem

Craig
2 years ago
Reply to  Pierluigi

The Romanian Broadcaster stated that our Spokesperson was ready to announce the votes but all of a sudden she was told she wasn’t going to do that any more. The TVR dismissed any technical glitch on their end.

Ugnius
Ugnius
2 years ago
Reply to  Pierluigi

It was not a protest. EBU simply didn’t allow their spokespersons to show up and present their votes because the juries supposedly made some sort of illegal voting agreements

Pierluigi
Pierluigi
2 years ago
Reply to  Ugnius

Then why only 3 of them didn’t show up if there were 6 disqualified juries? For the other 3 the spokespersons announced the simulated jury votes based on the EBU calculations. I think that for the other 3 the national broadcaster refused to announce votes that were not really casted by their own juries.

Craig
2 years ago
Reply to  Pierluigi

For Poland, Montenegro and San Marino the 12 Points would have gone to the same countries anyway : Ukraine, Serbia and Spain respectively but in the case of Romania, Azerbaijan and Georgia the 12 points would have gone to Moldova for the former and Ukraine for the latter 2, that’s why the EBU removed the 3 spokesperson.

Ugnius
Ugnius
2 years ago
Reply to  Pierluigi

I don’t know why but I saw a clip on Twitter where Romanian spokesperson were totally ready to present her votes (standing in front of camera with beautiful dress and full make up) only to find out that they reached to Martin Osterdahl and not her.

Georgian spokesperson also uploaded a photo in her instagram stories where she was standing fully prepared to announce the points.

addriaann
addriaann
2 years ago
Reply to  Pierluigi

Exactly!!!

Gheorghe
Gheorghe
2 years ago
Reply to  Pierluigi

Romania protests against this decision which is not explained. Which was the really problem for the disqualification of the Romanian jury ? It was not a technical problem!

Diana
Diana
2 years ago

Romania was one of the countries that got their votes annulled by EBU. The Romanian broadcaster, TVR, has said in a statement that there were no connection issues, they were simply not allowed to present the votes in the grand final. The Romanian juries gave the 12 points to Moldova, which is not surpising since Romania usually gives points to Moldova, but this year it was very deserved since the song was in Romanian and spoke about how Romania and Moldova are one and the same country. Plus we could see how Moldova came in second in the televote, so… Read more »

Susan
Susan
2 years ago
Reply to  Diana

It’s a scandal, it’s a shame, it’s a scandal and the toxic people trying to justify all the bad acts of EBU and the toxic campaigns against other countries except theirs like RAI

addriaann
addriaann
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

In other words: Because your votes were not similar to other countries, we removed your votes and replaced them accordingly with our (EBU) will! OMG!!! This is tyranny!!!
EBU, to what extent did you use your power to alter the votes and manipulate the results???

Refe
Refe
2 years ago
Reply to  addriaann

Upon this scandal, one can ask if the public televoting results are really real, and not REPLACED with EBU own “aggregated” votes… Just asking.

Doris
Doris
2 years ago

“Irregular voting patterns” detected among at least 30 countries in the televote top.

Gheorghe
Gheorghe
2 years ago
Reply to  Doris

What “Irregular voting patterns” really means ? This is not an explanation!

Princess Tickle
Princess Tickle
2 years ago

The official statement of the Romanian public broadcaster: https://www.stiripesurse.ro/tvr-asks-for-explanation-from-ebu-for-replacing-romanian-jurys-vote-at-eurovision-contest_2384040.html I have no idea whether there were irregularities or not, and of what sort, but the EBU’s handling, as described by the statement, is highly intransparent and suspicious. Of course, we only have the Romanian broadcaster’s word for it, but had the EBU actually informed these countries beforehand, I think we would have heard about it. The EBU statement only came out at 00:09 CET last night, smack in the middle of the jury votes announcements. Whereas they say that they noticed irregularities since Wednesday night, when the second semi-final jury… Read more »

Susan
Susan
2 years ago

This is a shame for a country like Italy, please search the internet “La televisión italiana se refiere a Chanel en plena final de Eurovisión como una “Jennifer López de saldo”

Iamme
Iamme
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

Italy’s a democracy, where everybody has the right to say whatever and the freedom to express theirselves.
Maybe Russia would suit your tastes better…

Susan
Susan
2 years ago
Reply to  Iamme

It is not a matter of expressing oneself freely, it is a matter of public television like those of all the democracies in Europe being neutral and not offending other countries. In what other public television in Europe does that happen? In none, only in the RAI. You should be ashamed to justify those actions

Pierluigi
Pierluigi
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

Well I remember lame comments by Graham Norton too… anyway Chanel wasn’t the only contestants that was criticized by that italian commentator, he also said that he really disliked Moldova and Moldova finished second in the italian televote so I don’t think that affected the televote

Iamme
Iamme
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

When there’s Sanremo italians do make funny/hilarious comments on TV about singers’performances and outfits.
The dude you see on italian TV is one of the most known “criticizers”: we all know it, that is his role.
You should see common people interviewed along the street: they can say really bad things about the singers of fhe Festival but in the end we all do laugh at this!
So, please: spanish fans take it easy!!!

Gheorghe
Gheorghe
2 years ago
Reply to  Iamme

The problem is not the democracy in Italy! I just remark that “Irregular voting patterns” is not an explanation. Can you explain what was the real problem?

schlageresque
schlageresque
2 years ago
Reply to  Iamme

that’s such an idiotic, tasteless comment.
For sure we should insult and dispise all performers like that and then the world will be a better place.
I can’t even fathom how people could upvote you

Jay
Jay
2 years ago
Reply to  Iamme

Are u trying to say, EU has any democracy left? Please! This is just hilarious. EU is fully controlled by USA, every word they say and every move they make regardless of the fact it damages and destroys lives of their people. Shame on Europe!

Patrizio
Patrizio
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

I agree. The theme of the contest is “The sound of beauty”, not hateful, shameful comments. The commentator should be taken off the air. Ignoranza!

pastel de nata
pastel de nata
2 years ago
Reply to  Susan

Disgraceful comments. Commentators should give insight and context about artists and even if it’s favorite or not to win, but not this.

Iamme
Iamme
2 years ago
Reply to  pastel de nata

No, in Italy it doesn’t work this way. People votes according to their own tastes, not because simeone told them what to do.
Hilarious comments are part of the game, one of the main reasons people would watch Esc.

Bubu
Bubu
2 years ago

Romanian Televiziunea Nationala announced the 12 points from Romania were in fact going to Moldova, which is very on brand. Actually giving Moldova 0 points, as the aggregated result is irregular. I wonder how many more Points Moldova lost like this from the other 5 juries.

Alan
Alan
2 years ago

If they noticed the irregularities during the semi final 2 dress rehearsal then why did they act like they knew nothing was going on when they were giving the jury points out in the final. They would have known from before the show that they weren’t going to be using their points. Something is odd about this and we need more info.

Samo
Samo
2 years ago
Reply to  Alan

Maybe trying to catch them doing it again in the final?

Oy oy
Oy oy
2 years ago
Reply to  Alan

Maybe the irregularitues was the real reason why Martin Österdal announced some of the jury-votes?

kia
kia
2 years ago

can someone please explain to me what an “irregular voting pattern” means in this context? i read that one of the countries where this happened was romania and also read that the romanian national broadcasting television released a statement where they said they weren’t allowed to announce their results. also said the romanian jury’s 12 points went to moldova (no surprise here). i can’t comprehend why ebu decided this is an irregular voting pattern and gave those 12 points to ukraine instead..

biti zdrava
biti zdrava
2 years ago
Reply to  kia

I believe it is that the 5 jurors in a given country had similar rankings, so probably a very similar top 10 if not exactly the same which is statistically improbable and likely that the jury had talked beforehand (which your not allowed to do, you cannot talk with the other jury members about placements). So I’d assume for Romania’s jury they must have all had Moldova 1st and Ukraine 2nd? That would be my guess but I’m not sure. Also, the same thing happened with Belarus jury in 2019 which is why they used an aggregate score then.

THEO
THEO
2 years ago
Reply to  kia

Politics, that’s the answer.

sTommie
sTommie
2 years ago
Reply to  kia

This article from years ago explains a lot

https://wiwibloggs.com/2014/06/02/montenegro-jury-vote-fraud/52026/

Aisling
Aisling
2 years ago
Reply to  sTommie

Wow that Montenegro article is very confusing, I don’t know what to think!

Frisian esc
Frisian esc
2 years ago
Reply to  kia

You are making a huge assumption that the reason their votes are being replaced is for giving 12 points to moldova.

kia
kia
2 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

no, i did not say the reason their votes were replaced was the fact that they gave them to moldova. i said that this is what the romanian tv broadcaster declared and i was wondering why the ebu came to the conclusion this was an irregular voting pattern now, since romania gave moldova points since forever and vice versa and everyone knows that. the fact the points were changed to ukraine was just an additional questionable thing

ThorBeta
ThorBeta
2 years ago
Reply to  Frisian esc

The fact that they gave 12 points to Moldova on the Final is completely irrelevant since their jury was banned for “certain irregular voting patterns” that were identified after the analysis of the voting during the Dress Rehearsal of the Second Semi-Final and not the Grand Final. Since Moldova wasn’t taking part in Semi-Final 2 something else happened on Wednesday evening and EBU and only them knows what that is. I’m curious to see if they will announce more details in the days to come and I’m also wondering if there is gonna be further scrutiny in the jury results… Read more »

Bringbe5
Bringbe5
2 years ago

What’s the link to the jury results page?
I’ve been looking everywhere, but I couldn’t find it!

Jesse O’Rourke
Jesse O’Rourke
2 years ago

It’s all fixed anyway. Glad I went out and had fun , I knew they’d give it to Ukraine since February.

Jghtl
2 years ago

Smart

Jay
Jay
2 years ago

The winner was obvious way in advance. They will be winning any competition even if they don’t participate

Kamma
Kamma
2 years ago

Can’t seriously understand the juries bizzard bias with UK, makes zero sense, feels terribly forced. What on eart is there critically in the UK’s entry? Also, political blindness isn’t the same as objectivity. The juries are pested with neighbor voting bs they were formed to balance out. That’s not objectivity nor is it unpolitical. It’s a huge joke. Current events raise emotions, actual genuine emotions. If people aren’t supposed to vote by the actual impact the entries have on them, we can straight up give up all song contests. There’s no point in music without content and meaning. Have some… Read more »

Craig
2 years ago

I’m so dissappointed with my country for taking part in this voting manipulation. Our representative WRS made us proud and he could have only qualify with the televoting, so I don’t see the point of the Romanian TV broadcaster taking part in this fraud. As a Romanian I feel ashamed and I hope that the TVR will soon clarify what happened with our jury votes. Also I wish the EBU could explain what exactly was the strange “voting pattern” so that speculations could finally come to an end.

Sam
Sam
2 years ago
Reply to  Craig

No shame here. No fraud. On the contrary, Eurovision confiscated the 12 points given to Moldova for the beautiful song and awarded them to……. UKRAINE! Allegedly Romania has a pattern of giving points to Moldova.
Georgia also made a complaint over the points awarded by euronews to……..UK!
From political eurovision to Autocratic eurovison. Their committee decides the results on our money. So, Romania did NOT manipulate the votes, euronews manipulated the 12 points votes of 6 countries. Craig, inform yourself before posting!!!

Gheorghe
Gheorghe
2 years ago
Reply to  Craig

It is not clear if the Romanian jury was “taking part in this voting manipulation”! Who was manipulated and how? The EBU must explain what exactly was the strange “voting pattern”!

JohnnyT
JohnnyT
2 years ago
Reply to  Craig

A person from Norway (probably) modifying the votes of an entire country is outrageous! What do you even mean bro? Why do you feel ashamed? Because some organization that it’s all political since day 1 says it was something wrong? They didn’t even allow Romania National TV to join online and give the votes. They basically blocked our vote as a country and you gladly say fast it’s all on us? Scandinavian country giving points to each other for decades but RO giving MDA 12 points for a song that basically sings about a train ride from Chisinau to Bucharest… Read more »

Adam Waite
Adam Waite
2 years ago

Australia is probably one of the only countries in Eurovision you can trust would never bribe or interfere with voting. Australia takes it too seriously and we dont take for granted the generosity Europe has given by allowing us to participate.

Steve
Steve
2 years ago

We (Australia) do not bribe juries, wtf?

Gaga
Gaga
2 years ago

Just ban Azerbaijan. It should have been disqualified after the ethnic cleansing against Armenians in the first place. It’s a dictatorship and has nothing to do with the civilised world.

FrauEva
FrauEva
2 years ago
Reply to  Gaga

Why don’t we talk about ethnic cleansing started by Armenians against Azerbaijani people in the first place? It was not Azerbaijan who invaded internationally recognised territory of another country. Only thing it has done was liberating their territory recognised by INTERNATIONAL LAW. With your logic Armenia should be banned as i believe occupating the territory of your neighboring countries is what many would call uncivilised.

eli
eli
2 years ago
Reply to  Gaga

serbs did ethnic cleansing but they are in the competition. so do you want them to be disqualified too? what about israel?

Renee
Renee
2 years ago
Reply to  Gaga

You’re ridiculous

Sofia
Sofia
2 years ago
Reply to  Gaga

As I know it’s not a political contest. It’s somehow about music, no?

Kristof
Kristof
2 years ago
Reply to  Gaga

The most corrupt country in all of the contest. EBU stays quiet while caviar diplomacy wins again.

Sabrina
Sabrina
2 years ago

I saw on another website that in the grand final they were issues too with the georgian jury because they claimed that they gave 12 points to ukraine and not united kingdom well it seems EBU lost their credibility for good and a lot of viewers too after last night It seems the ebu will have his work with overlooking this result ugh this feels even worse than 2019 i swear if spain ends up second after all i am gonna be so bloody pissed then because everyone talks about how UK is the real winner if you don’t interfere… Read more »

Garbo
Garbo
2 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Georgian real jury votes were annulled along with another 5 countries

Raluka
Raluka
2 years ago
Reply to  Sabrina

Also the Romanian jury gave 12 points to Moldova not Ukraine. Ebu did not let Eda to go live and say the votes. They gave the Romanin votes as they pleased. ?

Efthymios
Efthymios
2 years ago

This might sound bad by my side, but this year’s televoting greatly reminded me of the 2016 one, all over again. A couple of Eastern European countries getting the bigger part of the pie from the people’s votes and leaving the Nordics (except Sweden) or other Western countries behind in the scores.

Newbee
Newbee
2 years ago
Reply to  Efthymios

Well idk, people in Eastern Europe are also people and make music..maybe they alsi deserve a couple of them to go in top 5 sometimes

Jghtl
2 years ago
Reply to  Efthymios

And what’s wrong with that? I don’t get it

Efthymios
Efthymios
2 years ago
Reply to  Jghtl

That politics influenced the voting once again, the televoting one, specifically. I mean, I get Ukraine getting the majority ofnthe televote by their side (mostly) out of sympathy but Moldova 2nd? Which is also rymoured lately to soon experiencea possible Russian threat too?

I absolutely hope that my speculations are wrong, of course, I have no cunning intentions expressing these thoughts. After all, I personally liked both those mentioned entries a lot and still feel they earned deserved points.

Gheorghe
Gheorghe
2 years ago
Reply to  Efthymios

I know that Greece gives 12 points to Cyprus and vice-versa! For me, Eurovision is a songs show with a vote indicating the political affinities.

Efthymios
Efthymios
2 years ago

How the hell Azerbaijan ended up earning THREE (or four, don’t remember) pairs of twelve points again is beyond me. Plus, I think they’re the very first country to ever qualify from a semi-final without a single televote point, hahaha. I’m surprised they actually even earned 3 televote poins in the Grand Final, taking granded their semi-final results.

List
List
2 years ago
Reply to  Efthymios

Let me tell you how. I have no idea about anything going on in Azerbaijan. I believed that Serbia can go in top 3, but our main competition would be Sweden and Spain. Since I don’t live in Serbia, I voted 20 times for it and called all my friends in Serbia and told them to televote Azerbaijan, it’s the worst song in the competition and as we’re all metal fans, title “Fade to Black” is funny to us. I am convinced that Serbian jury had exactly the same in their mind when Serbia gave them 12. If same jury… Read more »

Renee
Renee
2 years ago
Reply to  Efthymios

I was watching numerous channels while Azerbaijan was performing for the jury – everyone said it look like ALL jurors were captivated. Azerbaijan had a great singer, wonderfully composed song

Tadhg
Tadhg
2 years ago
Reply to  Efthymios

I thought it was very fishy considering over half the countries gave them no points.

Kristof
Kristof
2 years ago
Reply to  Efthymios

How is it possible that Greece and Serbia juries gave them 12 points? No sense whatsoever. Only a blind man would think they were honest votes.

Duckie
Duckie
2 years ago

Australia bribed the juries to come 15th? ?

Angi
Angi
2 years ago

Moldova represented also my country Romania, same song,same culture same language, but our jury or EBU didn t gave them any vote!!!!!!!!!!!

Writckut
Writckut
2 years ago

With all due respect to the Ukrainian people, I always hear what happened to Ukraine’s appeal at the end of its performance? The ESC rules are very clear in that sense and they should be penalized if ESC was really fair, but it was very clear that everything is political

Gheorghe
Gheorghe
2 years ago
Reply to  Writckut

You’re right: everything is political!

dade
dade
2 years ago

it comes natural to point at Azerbaijan as we all know they have the money and the will to bribe juries and manipulate the televote. But still, we don’t know any details surrounding this incident and as long as we don’t, it’s unfair to judge a single country. In modern day democracies you are innocent as long as your guilt isn’t proved, thats a main pillar of any legal system in a real democracy. So it doesn’t make sense to ask for those countries votes to be ditched completely. I hate having aggregated results but in that moment, at this… Read more »

Gaga
Gaga
2 years ago
Reply to  dade

Azerbaijan is autocratic. They caught themselves in corruption scandal every single year. Should be disqualified.

dade
dade
2 years ago
Reply to  Gaga

so we judge them by THEIR rules? no thanks, I stick to our democratic standards, even if it feels awkward

Gaga
Gaga
2 years ago
Reply to  dade

Azerbaijan got clearly proven guilty on other occasions related to cheating in the past. The EBU former CEO even resigned due to the corruption scandal involving Azerbaijan’s victory in 2011. Azerbaijani special services investigated and detained all Azerbaijanis who voted for a rival country. Isn’t it all sufficient to make a decision?

Sim
Sim
2 years ago
Reply to  dade

Excuse me? It’s democracy, not anarchy. If you can’t play fair, you have nothing to do with fair players, sorry.

Kristof
Kristof
2 years ago
Reply to  dade

Caviar diplomacy works with the EBU too. Pathetic!

Daniel Li
Daniel Li
2 years ago

Why so many countries voted for Sweden, did not make any sense as their song was just crap. The whole contest is very unfair, there were many songs that deserved more. When Eurovision will regulate that?
P.S. change the UK presenter, or ask him next time to learn some manners and the names of the singers.

John
John
2 years ago

Has anyone mentioned the massive televote for Serbia in the final? A big ‘public’ vote turnout? Hmmmm, anything to do with Russian voting bots?

sad
sad
2 years ago
Reply to  John

serbia had the most viewed perforomances, people loved it!

Patrick
Patrick
2 years ago

No way would all those disqualified countries have voted so heavily for the UK.

Ana
Ana
2 years ago
Reply to  Patrick

Why not? We are Romanian nationals living in the Uk and all our families back home voted for UK plus the song was very good and deserved it

JohnnyT
JohnnyT
2 years ago
Reply to  Patrick

And now they claim we are the real winners :))) while obviously all the points were given behind the scenes to the UK

Epicurean
Epicurean
2 years ago

Azerbaijan must be investigated for rigging juries. It’s so blatantly obvious. Zero points from televoting in semi final 2. Three points in the final.

Random 12 points from random countries in the final.

Fishy as hell.

Make Eurovision FAIR again.

James Burke
James Burke
2 years ago

So will Moldova win next year when Putin invaded it ?

Rodrro
Rodrro
2 years ago
Reply to  James Burke

It is the most stupid comment I have ever heard.
Do you think is a joke speaking about the war?

James Burke
James Burke
2 years ago

Ireland are entering a goat next year having its feet washed on stage – that should win

Femke
Femke
2 years ago
Reply to  James Burke

No it won’t. Just enter a good song and pray for peace. That will do it. Look at Sam Ryder

Patrick
Patrick
2 years ago
Reply to  James Burke

Why not. They entered a tone deaf turkey this year.

ThorBeta
ThorBeta
2 years ago
Reply to  Patrick

Lol they literally entered a turkey in the past (2008) and we all know how this ended up…

List
List
2 years ago
Reply to  James Burke

I actually loved Irish song, but I have huge amount for respect for Serbian song. Fully dressed woman, mother of two, well educated, came fully dressed, showed no skin, sat down, washed her hands and slayed. She sent a message about health obsession people face after beauty standards fade away when people reach their 40s and pointed that following mass media “health” advices would drive your mind sick, sad, frightened and desperate. How many times you find a clickbait on some beauty standards that eventually comes to a conclusion that some skin imperfection is caused by your internal organ health… Read more »

Helena
2 years ago

If Azerbaijan bribed the juries, why didnt the manipulate the televotings? Its easier to put 1000 people with 2 mobiles to vote for Azwrbaijan in.each country.

ThorBeta
ThorBeta
2 years ago
Reply to  Helena

EBU (actually their digital partners Digame) has thankfully implemented new technology to succesfully remove fraud televoting. And that is because Azerbaijan has done exactly what you described many times before. Also that could very well explain how Azerbaijan got 0 points in televoting in the semi – I wouldn’t be surprised if their televoting figures got nulled or largely reduced in many countries due to suspected fraud votes. I think 2022 is gonna be their last participation – they are terribly exposed this year.

Renee
Renee
2 years ago
Reply to  ThorBeta

Why all the bashing on Azerbaijan? The singer was actually really talented and the jury loved him

Alan
Alan
2 years ago
Reply to  Helena

You can only vote a max 20 times. Were you not watching the show where they said this a million times.

Kristof
Kristof
2 years ago
Reply to  Helena

Helena that’s not a logical explanation. Do some research before defending Eurovision’s most corrupt country. Check azerbaijan’s track record of corruption and bribes and you’ll realize how this all makes sense.

Helena
2 years ago

Also Albania has weird jury voting. The jury gave 8 points to Greece in semifinal, didnt vote Greece at final, but voted for Armenia and Portugal that at the semifinal had lower points than Greece.

Pgonc
Pgonc
2 years ago
Reply to  Helena

Maybe they just changed their minds… That happens a lot every year.

Alfie28
Alfie28
2 years ago
Reply to  Helena

Yeah.