Teleradio Moldova has announced its decision to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. The announcement was made several minutes ago, by the director of the national broadcaster Moldova 1, Corneliu Durnescu, and the head of the Eurovision Moldova delegation, Daniela Crudu.

The decision comes after a thorough review of the current situation and the economic, administrative, and artistic challenges involved. While Moldova will not participate in the contest this year, Moldova 1 will still broadcast the two semifinals and the grand final from Basel, allowing viewers to enjoy the competition in the best possible conditions.

According to Corneliu Durnescu, the decision to withdraw was not easy but necessary given the current context. This year’s national selection highlighted several challenges, including a decline in public interest and the overall quality of songs and performances. This has led to negative feedback from both professionals and the public, underscoring the need for significant reform in the selection process.

See the full press conference below:

“The decision was not an easy one, but it was necessary in the current context. This year’s selection revealed certain challenges, including a decrease in public interest and the overall quality of songs and performances. This led to a negative perception among professionals and the public, highlighting the need for substantial reforms in the selection process.”

Corneliu Durnescu, director of Moldova broadcaster

He also mentioned that the Moldovan public broadcaster, TRM, intends to revise its selection criteria and methodology to encourage broader participation from talented artists and ensure a more consistent and competitive cultural representation on the international stage.

“We consulted with music industry experts, and most expressed serious reservations about Moldova’s participation this year, aligning with the opinion of the jury selected by TRM for this edition. We respect the opinions of professionals and the public, and understand that we must make responsible decisions.”

Corneliu Durnescu, director of Moldova broadcaster

Durnescu explained that participating in the Eurovision Song Contest involves significant costs, including the organization of the national final, show production, artist promotion, travel and accommodation for the team, stage production, technical equipment, and other associated expenses. The participation fee for Moldova, communicated by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), is €21,486, contrary to the circulating claim of €176,000.

“The public broadcaster remains available to provide accurate information. We have committed to being transparent, and Eurovision is no exception. At the same time, we cannot allow the public to be misled by false or malicious narratives.”

Corneliu Durnescu, director of Moldova broadcaster

TRM will redirect the resources initially allocated for Moldova’s participation this year towards other projects. Despite the withdrawal, the officials remain optimistic about Moldova’s future involvement in Eurovision.

“This decision was not made lightly, but we assure you it was thoroughly analyzed. We all would have liked to organize a national final and select a song to represent us at the international stage. However, we firmly believe that this decision will stimulate interest for future editions. We are committed to returning stronger to Eurovision. It is important to support those who aspire to perform on major stages and give them the opportunity to better prepare”

Daniela Crudu, Head of the Eurovision Moldova

Following the live auditions on January 18, 12 artists and bands had qualified for the Eurovision 2025 national final. This year would have marked Moldova’s 20th participation in the contest.

Will you miss Moldova this year? Let us know in the comments and on our social media profiles @buildingbridgespod.

Source: Moldova1.md
Photo: Alma Bengtsson / EBU