Norwegian singer Alessandra — © WireImage
Norwegian singer Alessandra, who finished fifth at the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool last year, will no longer hand out the points on behalf of her home country during the final of the Eurovision Song Contest on Saturday. The reason is “the toxic situation” that arose at the event, reports Norwegian broadcaster NRK.
“’United by music’ is the slogan of the Eurovision Song Contest, but right now you are divided by music,” said Morten Thomassen, chairman of MGP, Norway’s national song contest. It is not known whether the decision has to do with the disqualification of Dutch participant Joost Klein. On Saturday it was announced that he would no longer be allowed to participate in the final after an “incident”, he allegedly threatened someone.
NRK presenter Ingvild Helljesen takes over handing out the points. The broadcaster also reports that a crisis meeting is taking place because several countries were not at the flag parade on Saturday. Switzerland, Greece and Ireland were not included. The reason for this is not yet known.
