WE MOVED!!

source: belgovision.com
Charlotte Perrelli's reputation at the Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was saved by a new rule introduced by the EBU. The 1999 Eurovision Song Contest winner finished twelfth in the second semifinal, but thanks to this new rule, Sweden won the ticket for the final instead of the Macedonian candidates who finished tenth.

The European Broadcasting Union introduced a new rule at the Eurovision Song Contest this year. The tenth country to proceed to the final from each semifinal was not selected by televoting, but by the back-up juries. Of all countries which didn't qualify through the televoting in the first semifinal, Poland was most liked by the back-up juries. However, Polish singer Isis Gee also finished tenth in the televoting and would also have qualified if the new rule hadn't been applied.

The new rule was introduced by the EBU to prevent that a country with a less good song would qualify for the final thanks to neighbour votes instead of a country with a better song. Especially Macedonia knew how to reach the final thanks to their neighbours in the previous year. However, the country also became the first victim of the new rule. Macedonia finished tenth in the televoting, but the back-up juries had rated Charlotte Perrelli's song Hero higher. Although she finished twelfth in the second semifinal, Charlotte qualified Sweden for the final.

On the official website of the Eurovision Song Contest you can find the complete results of the second semifinal final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2008. Click here to see the complete scoreboard with all votes per country.