Croatia: Malta’s surprise Eurovision BFF

As Malta gets ready to rock Tel Aviv with this year’s Eurovision Song Contest entry, the spectre of political allies and strategic voting has already raised its head.
This year’s entry is an upbeat, dance-friendly track that will see 18-year-old Michela Pace shimmying to Chameleon in front of thousands. Many are wondering whether it will face the same fate as Christabelle’s Taboo last year.
However, new data released by Casumo reveals a previously-unsuspected ally for Malta – Croatia. The data, which the online gaming company published after analysing the voting records of every Eurovision final between 1956 and 2018, shows that of the 23 times Malta has been given top marks, most times these came from Croatia and Bosnia. 
Malta has, in fact, received more ‘maximum point’ votes from Croatia than any other country in the competition.

Other countries that appear to give Malta a favourable eye include Denmark, Ireland, Portugal, Slovenia, Sweden and the UK, each of which have awarded Malta top vote twice. 
We were also the favourites for Luxembourg, Norway, Russia, Spain and Turkey once.
Malta itself seems to be a firm believer in good neighbourly relations, with its biggest...