An announcement is anticipated today as Moldova’s national broadcaster, TRM, is rumored to cancel its planned Eurovision selection process, opting instead for an internal choice to represent the country at Eurovision 2025.

According to widespread speculation online, TRM will announce at a press conference today that the national selection process, “Etapa Națională 2025,” will not proceed as planned. Instead, the broadcaster is expected to internally select the artist Bacho and the group Carnival Brain with their song “Semafoare” as Moldova’s entry for Eurovision 2025.

This announcement would come as a significant shift in the selection process, particularly since auditions have already taken place and a list of competing artists and songs was published. The final for Etapa Națională 2025 was originally scheduled for February 22, 2025, and the competition has been a cornerstone of Moldova’s Eurovision efforts in recent years.

Sources suggest the decision to pivot to an internal selection stems from dissatisfaction with the quality of the songs in this year’s lineup. Criticism has been leveled at the selection process, with reports that even contestants who typically finish last in auditions managed to secure spots in the lineup.

TRM’s rules for Etapa Națională allow the broadcaster to terminate the selection process at any time and select an entrant internally.

The local organizer reserves the right to designate the representative of the Republic of Moldova for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 at any stage, without being obligated to carry out subsequent stages. In this case, participants have no right to make claims against the local organizer.

These provisions also preclude contestants from taking legal action or making claims against the broadcaster.

Before the rumored cancellation, the following artists and songs were announced as participants in Etapa Națională 2025:

• Zelorielle – “Miracle”
• Vadim Eleni – “Mamă, să fii!”
• Royals ST – “Zboară-n sus”
• PRIZA ft. Mc MIKE – “Kookoo”
• Katy Rain – “Timpul”
• Catalina Solomac – “Demons”
• Rina – “Dorințele”
• Bacho & Carnival Brain – “Semafoare”
• LODOS – “Sentimental”
• Nadya Crajevschi – “Not a shadow”
• Chris Cross – “Eu vin”
• Sasha Bognibov – “All-Night Party”

Moldova’s 2024 Eurovision journey ended with Natalia Barbu’s song “In the Middle” failing to qualify for the grand final. The entry placed 13th in the first semi-final, marking Moldova’s lowest result since 2016.

Should today’s rumored announcement prove true, the decision to select Bacho and Carnival Brain internally could represent an effort to bolster Moldova’s chances in Eurovision 2025 by ensuring a higher-quality entry.

Will Semafoare mark a turning point for Moldova, or will the decision to cancel the national selection spark controversy? ! Let us know in the comments and on our social media profiles @buildingbridgespod.

Photo: Alma Bengtsson / EBU