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<H1><FONT size=2>Since there was a discussion on Eurovision voting on this forum
few months ago - here is a cnn.com article on song contest in Slovenia. There
were three subjects voting - a 3-member TV commission, a 3-member expert
commission and a popular voting (by telephone). Each of the three subjects' vote
was worth the same. Both commissions decided that transvestite "Sisters" were
the best, but the people voted 31.000 versus 8.000 for another song. However,
the sisters won.</FONT></H1>
<DIV><A
href="http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/02/20/slovenia.eurovision/index.html">http://www.cnn.com/2002/WORLD/europe/02/20/slovenia.eurovision/index.html</A></DIV>
<H1><FONT size=2>Transvestite Sisters stir Slovenia</FONT></H1><!-- date -->
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<P class=Small>February 21, 2002 Posted: 3:23 AM EST (0823 GMT)<BR></P><!-- /date --><SPAN class=Small>By Ales Gaube</SPAN><BR>
<P><B>LJUBLJANA, Slovenia --</B> <B>The annual Eurovision Song contest is
causing a stir in Slovenia, where a group of three transvestites called "The
Sisters" are challenging traditional values.</B> </P>
<P>The group has won the right to represent the country, where nearly
three-quarters of the two million citizens identify themselves as Catholic. </P>
<P>Allegations of voting improprieties have compounded the shock to the national
system and the debate has reached the Slovene parliament. </P>
<P>The trio -- lead singer Miss Marlena (real name Tomaz Mihelic), Daphne (Sreco
Blas), and Emperatrizz (Damjan Levec) -- won the national heat on February 16
for their song, "Only Love." </P>
<P>The winner was picked by two juries and TV viewers. The juries' vote gave the
trio the win by a single vote, despite apparently overwhelming public tele-vote
support for the second-place finisher, Karmen Stavec and her song "More and
More." </P><!--startclickprintexclude-->
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<P>Doubts about the fairness of the popular vote had been voiced before the
final results were announced. </P>
<P>The results of the five-minute tele-voting period did not appear as planned
and the tension among the artists in the studio rose as 20 minutes passed. The
musical acts split into two camps, one supporting "The Sisters" and the others
taking Stavec's side, shouting "Karmen, Karmen." </P>
<P>When the results were finally announced, Stavec had overwhelmingly won the
telecast vote with 31,944 votes, while "The Sisters", who wore red air hostess
uniforms for their performance, had received only 8,454 votes. </P><!--startclickprintexclude--><!--endclickprintexclude-->
<P>But with the jurors' votes, the trio gained overall victory and Stavec fled
the stage in tears -- runner-up for the second year in a row. </P>
<P>"The Sisters" had little chance to savour their victory, however, as it was
revealed that their songwriter, Magnifico, had got into a backstage brawl with a
rival, Patrik Greblo, who had cheered for Stavec. </P>
<P>Then suspicions grew about the long-delayed tele-voting results. According to
official results, 91,952 votes were cast for the 10 songs, doubling the previous
year's total. </P>
<P>TV Slovenia and two tele-voting companies held a news conference to address
the controversy. But it did nothing to clear the air as it was revealed that the
tele-vote had lasted eight minutes -- three more than allowed -- and had started
early. </P>
<P>The organisers gave no indication as to who had given the green light to open
up the phone lines before the starting signal flashed on TV screens across
Slovenia. </P><!--startclickprintexclude--><!--endclickprintexclude-->
<P>Misa Molk, editor-in-chief of TV Slovenia's Entertainment Program, ultimately
said the tele-voting had been declared invalid. But "The Sisters" retain their
crown. </P>
<P>Rules state that the juries' decision would count if tele-voting broke down,
explained Molk. </P>
<P>Now a group of leading Slovenian singers, composers and record label bosses
have written an open letter vowing never again to appear at TV Slovenia's
Entertainment Program events. </P>
<P>The group said that no respect was being paid to their work, that the
irregularities surrounding the public voting results had been poorly justified
and that the jury members had overstepped their mandate with a unilateral
decision in favour of "The Sisters." </P>
<P>In parliament, Slovene People's Party deputy Franc Kangler on Tuesday asked
culture ministry officials how they intended to improve the public image of the
national television station. The same day, the station's general manager, Aleks
Stakul, demanded a thorough investigation. </P>
<P>"The Sisters" themselves have carefully avoided the squabbles, leading
commentators to suggest they are already packing their suitcases for Estonia --
carefully laying the air hostess uniforms on top.<!--endclickprintinclude--><BR
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