According to , The FYR Macedonia national broadcaster, MKTV will demand a change to the Eurovision Song Contest voting procedure for the semi finals at the next Reference Group Meeting. The broadcaster is furious that having finished in 10th place in the semi final in 2008 and 2009, the country has missed out on a place in the final due to the jury choice going to a country with fewer televotes. Eftim Gastov, director of MKTV has also threatened a possible withdrawal from the competition.
"When it happens for the second time that we are unfairly excluded from the final, the question which cannot be avoided is, is it necessary for us to take part in the Eurovision Song Contest? We would like to continue to be a part of this European event, but we are planning to hold a televised TV debate in order for professionals and the public to give their opinion on the event." Mr. Gastov was quoted as saying at a press conferene in Skopje yesterday.
The rules for qualification for the final have been agreed and set since the introduction of the two semi final system in 2008. The top nine songs by way of televote qualify for the Eruovision Song Contest final. The tenth qualifier is the country highest on the jury score card that has not already qualified. In 2008, Sweden took the jury choice in the FYR Macedonia semi final. This year, Finland were the jury choice from the semi final.
Despite the rules being clear and the methods for qualifications agreed to in the rules, MKTV are now furious that they have just missed out on qualification for the final two years running. Poland finished 11th in the Eurovision Song Contest twice in 2005 and 2006 when only one semi final was held and the top 10 counties qualified.
"The boys of Next Time definitely did not deserve this injustice. They and their band represented Macedonia in the best and most dignified possible way at the Eurovision Song Contest in Moscow." Mr Gastov said.
