Eurovision contest: is is about singing?

The Eurovision contest 2008 ended according to expectations. For the Czech Republic, and for Russia. The Eurovision contest is no longer a competition of talent, it is a political competition, where the votes of countries go to countries they like, and people from the ex-soviethean countries vote for Russia. This is, of course, not the case of the Czechs, who never vote for Russia. The fact that Kerndlova of the CR will have to go back from singing to a catwalk was quite clear, but what surprises me is the distribution of international solidarity.

Russia won thanks largely to loyal voting from former Soviet republics. Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Belarus and Armenia all awarded it the maximum 12 points. Ukraine came second, helped by Russia, which awarded it eight points.

Others, such as the Nordic countries, also stuck together. Denmark was the most loyal, giving eight points to Sweden, 10 to Norway and 12 to Iceland. Iceland repaid the compliment, awarding Denmark 12 points and Norway 10.

Andorra faithfully gave Spain 12 points and Portugal 10. Spain gave eight to Portugal.

The UK picked up only 14 points – eight from Ireland, six from San Marino. The UK gave 12 points to Greece, 10 to Latvia, eight to Turkey – but none to Russia.