How does Eurovision work exactly?

As you know, I'm not in Europe at the current moment, so I always watch the contestants on Youtube. I was wondering how the process works. Does Turkey pick the singer that they want to represent them or does the contest pick? Also, when it comes to competing with other countries, who decides who wins the entire competition?

For Turkey; TRT selects someone and suggest her/him/they to go to Eurovision. If the singer accepts, he/she make 3 songs and TRT chooses the song they like and send to Eurovision.

All Europe decides the winner with mobile-phone votes.

I think it`s TRT that picks the contestant in Turkey. The voting system for the winner is a little bit phoney, you can send as many votes as you want by cell phone accept for your country`s singer. Overall, the contest is nothing serious. It`s like a one night party to entertain people.

personally I think it has gone down hill fast. with the overall voting you've got 'New Europe' voting for each other and vice versa with 'Old Europe'. Often the best song is not the winner. here in the UK we have heats to find the song and singer to represent us. each heat is put to a telephone vote then the winner is chosen in the final. that also could be a misrepresentation. there is no limit to the amount of calls you make so again the best song may not win.

it's starts as a show of cheap songs

then in the vote it turns political and every country votes a friendly country even if the song was a crap

or many countries agree to vote one other country for political reasons.

that's how turkey won... in a gesture of a good will by european countries.

Turkish people dont choose anything. TRT chooses singer and singer chooses the song . We listen and debate only.