The deadline to submit songs for the Latvian preselection for Eurovision 2011, Eirodziesma, passed today at 17:00 CET. A total of 71 songs have been submitted to the national broadcaster LTV, slightly less than last year, when 79 entries were sent.

Latvian Television reveals that among the applicants are both well-known and unknown names. In the forthcoming days, the 71 songs will be assessed by the LTV jury. The20 lucky entries to go through the televised stages of Eirodziesma 2011will be announced at a press conference scheduled for December 14th.

As already announced, the contestants will be divided in 2 semifinals, to be held on February 5th and 12th. Five will qualify from each of them. As an important novelty, an additional challenge (second chance) round will be held on February 19th featuring the 10 non-qualifying songs from the semifinals.Two songs will go through the final, one chosen by the public and the other one by the jury.

The national final has been set on February 26th, to be held in Ventspils, featuring a total of 12 songs. Three songs will qualify for the "superfinal", to be held immediately after the final. Out of these, the Latvian representative will be chosen. All decisions will be taken by televote and jury vote with a 50% stake each.