Portugal participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 2011 in Düsseldorf, Germany, having selected their entry through a televised national final, organised by Portuguese broadcaster Rádio e Televisão de Portugal (RTP).

The Portuguese broadcaster, RTP, used the same selection method they used in 2010. Songwriters, singers and groups could have submit their songs through the RTP website until the January 16th deadline. Those interested had about two months to submit their entries. A jury of experts selected between 20 and 24 of the best songs. Once the songs were chosen, people from all over the world had a chance to listen and selected their favourite song through the RTP’s website. Then, from the 20th 27 January the Portuguese public were able to vote for their favourite song.

The 12 most voted entries then competed at a grand-finale, held on 5 March. The song that represented Portugal in Düsseldorf was selected from a combination of jury votes and televoting. The songs must be performed in Portuguese. The singers and songwriters must have Portuguese citizenship but the composer can be a foreigner.

The host of the grand-finale, for the fourth year running, was Sílvia Alberto. She was joined by Joana Teles (conducting the "Green Room" Interviews). At a press conference, the broadcaster (RTP) announced the chosen finalists and the running order of the final show.

The results of the Portuguese selection competition caused much controversy. After the victory of Homens da Luta was announced, several fans of the Eurovision Song Contest left the venue in protest. At the end of the show, the members of the band were interviewed by the press, including oikotimes.com. In a statement in English, the lead member Jel presented the band as “the struggling people of Portugal. We represent the people that don’t like the way things are in Portugal and in Europe and we are going to be in Düsseldorf to tell the world”. Talking about the entry “A luta é alegria”, Jel stated that “this song is our weapon!” After leaving the venue, to attend a previously scheduled concert, the singer added, “People are joining the struggle, every time you hear someone singing the song in the streets, it is someone else that is joining the struggle”. At the venue, the members of Homens da Luta appealed to everybody to join the struggle.

Portugal entered in sixteenth position in the first semi-final on 10 May, but didn't qualify for the final with an eighteenth place with 22 points, marking the first time since 2007 that Portugal failed to advance to the final.

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Wikipedia