From 38 countries at Eurovision 2025 we go down to 37. That’s after Moldova’s state broadcaster TVM confirmed that it was withdrawing from the Eurovision Song Contest in Basel. The news comes just days after the country staged auditions for its national final. And it would seem those auditions played a big role in Moldova’s decision. Corneliu Durnescu, the director of the Moldova 1 network, has explicitly stated that the lack of quality “generated a negative perception” towards Eurovision.
Durnescu, along with Daniela Crudi, the head of the Eurovision Moldova Delegation, said the decision comes “following a detailed analysis of the current situation, as well as the economic, administrative and artistic challenges.”
Moldova withdraws from Eurovision 2025
Despite its withdrawal, Moldova 1 will broadcast the two semi-finals and the grand final in Basel live, offering viewers the opportunity to follow the competition.
“The decision was not an easy one, but necessary in the current context,” Durnescu said in a statement. “This year’s national selection highlighted certain challenges, including a decrease in public interest and the overall quality of the songs and artistic performances. This has generated a negative perception among specialists and the public, underlining the need for a substantial reform in the selection process.”
“We consulted specialists in the music field, and most of them expressed serious reservations regarding Moldova’s participation this year, in exact agreement with the opinion of the jury that TRM selected for this edition. We respect the opinions of professionals and the general public, and we understand that we must make responsible decisions.”
Given the quality on show, participation was not seen as offering value for money. According to the statement, the EBU charges Moldova a participation fee of 21,486 euros.
“The public broadcaster remains at the disposal of anyone to provide the necessary information. We have assumed to be transparent and Eurovision is no exception. At the same time, we cannot allow public opinion to be misled by false or malicious narratives.”
Daniela Crudu, Moldova’s head of delegation, said:
“This decision was not an easy one, but we assure you that it was analyzed in detail. We know that we would all have liked to organize a national final and designate the song that would represent us at the international stage. However, we are firmly convinced that this decision will boost the interest in participating in future editions. We will ensure that we return to Eurovision with strength. It is important to support people who want to reach the big stages and to give them the opportunity to prepare better.”
First time it happens since Moldova joined in 2005! It would have been their 20th anniversary this year! Eurovision without Moldova is not the same, they are so iconic!
Disappointed cause Semafoare is in my top 5 fav songs of the season…and could have been successful in Eurovision…
Come back asap Moldova please!
Well that’s a kick in the nuts to all those who applied… You’re so bad we’re cancelling the show… Ouch!
Quality control. How refreshing!
Moldova and Romania used to be the iconic duo of Eurovision. For me, it’s either they both participate or both don’t.
Awk I’m pretty sure the hey mama guys would do it if ya give them a call.
Other countries shall withdraw, too. Especially UK and Germany, occasionally Spain, too. Their song quality year by year is terrible…
2025 is an unreal experience…
There could also be no Iceland
We need more countries to withdraw. Only the orginal countries (participating countries from 1956 – 1993) should take part, and then we can skip the semifinals and have a Eurovision Song Contest like in the good old days. Then there is also a chance to bring back the live orchestra.
Da faq
What a load of BS
How old are you? 578 years old!
They’ll come back next year stronger with Jimmy flip and his dancing monkey on bagpipes
How rude and inappropriate to blame this on the artists. I saw absolutely no difference in the auditions that what I have seen for the past several years, in fact I saw two or three which were a marked improvement on what we have seen recently.
United by money
Half of the Balkans is already gone and also Eastern Europe. This is becoming bigger and bigger issue and I see the EBU does nothing to keep countries in.
Eastern European countries/Balkans are responsible of this themselves:
Many of these countries were on a high ride 00s to 10s with good results, but broadcasters didn’t try to promote contest itself at all. One night event, that’s it.
Interest in public & artists doesn’t come like that, they had chance to show good results and make Eurovision memorable, but pushing the contest on secondary channels without any mentions doesn’t make it “Event of the year”.
The main thing they need to do is announce NF details earlier – and not in December with an early January deadline. The uncertainty means some artists and writers don’t know what’s going on until last minute!
I blame Sasha Bognibov for this
That’s a well-reasoned judgment. If the quality you are looking for is not there, then there is no need to enter. Maybe next year. Save some money and come back stronger.
Good point alfie28. I think there’s a case for some nations to concentrate their efforts on competing every other year. This would improve quality, save money and simplify Eurovision week in general. The final might even be reduced to 20 songs, which I feel would make it more watchable.
I think that EBU/Eurovision must reduce their prices in the future and also the most important thing for them should be that countries that participated in the past come back. Hopefully my country (Hungary), Romania, Turkey, Slovakia, Bosnia, Macedonia, Moldova, Andorra will come be in the near future and I think there is a chance for Lichtenstein and Kosovo too. Also I’m in an opinion that politics doesn’t belong to ESC so Russia and Belarus will come bc they brought us decent songs, hopefully the war will be over in the near future too and we will unite Europe in… Read more »
In the case of Russia though didn’t their broadcaster even leave the EBU entirely after they were banned from taking part? That will take a long time to resolve, many years I’m sure to reinstate them? Unless they have another broadcaster
It really is time for EBU to find a solution to all these countries exiting the contest due to financial reasons. I mean, look at the map of perticipating countries for this year contest on wikipedia. It is terrible to watch. Eastern Europe is falling apart and EBU does absolutely nothing… If it goes on like this, in a few years there will be 25 competing countries, nothing left at the east of Austria.
And without Iceland, Norway, Slovenia, Ireland and Belgium joining with Moldova. Simple as that. Go on EBU.
Ireland, Norway, Iceland, Belgium and Slovenia aren’t going anywhere? What are you talking about?
In the case of Ireland we are even revealing participants in our NF everyday this week?
They would withdraw after the artists or the broadcasters to boycott Israel. They can go everywhere.
EBU isn’t the one resolving countries economics, so it’s not totally up to them.
And if Moldovan artists don’t see appeal in Eurovision then it is what it is, western European countries have such long relations with the contest, that it wouldn’t come in mind to leave.
Not surprised really, they have started relying on previous entrants the last few years.
But, they are a loss to the ESC family this year. They usually bring the ethnicpop that I live for at ESC. Never usually in my top 10 but usually have enjoyable performances on the night.
Wish them a successful return next year. Hopefully they do.
There’s definitely other countries that should rethink their participation, way before Moldova does anyway.
First Moldova out, then potentially Iceland, Norway, Belgium, Slovenia and Ireland may out from Eurovision 2025 but the different reason being unfortunate boycotting circumstances. Shocking 🙁
What are you talking about?
Bore off!
Shut up. They can boycott whenever they want.
Isn’t this like the sixth consecutive year they threaten to withdraw or something ? Do y’all still take them seriously…
They would withdraw after the artists or the broadcasters to boycott Israel
Sad news for Moldova fans, but good news for us TV watchers, the show will be 3 minutes shorter and we can go to sleep earlier.
I don’t see how it’s a good news :’) When it’s Eurovision I don’t want to go to sleep.
Plus, for once both semi finals would have had the same number of participants, which is more fair. Well, it won’t be the case anymore.
Do you actually think those 3 minutes won’t be replaced by pointless yapping from the green room? Delusional.
I’ve just watched Sasha Bognibov’s performance and now I can’t unsee it. Or unhear it. Please help
They just wanna keep resending the same artists over and over again, which was impossible this year.
I understand their decision, but seeing Eastern Europe being so underrepresented at the contest is wild to me, considering how strong they were from the 2000s-10s.
Understandable, good they explained reasons behind this decision rather than staying silent about it.
A shame, always love Moldova’s whacky entries
Oh no that’s so sad 🙁
We will dearly miss Moldova and all the unique fun and whimsy they used to bring to esc. Hope they’re back next year strong as ever.
Quite an unexpected display of self-criticism, especially having in mind that the same reason didn’t prevent many other countries in the past from participating… As things indeed are, it was the only proper move to take – welcome back next year, I hope!
Feel sad for Bacho & CARNIVAL BRAIN. Feel great for Sasha Bognibov.
Good call in my opinion. If there’s no interest and the quality isn’t there why bother… it’s better to take a break for a few years and maybe come back with a bang in the future. I do hope they will come back eventually though, Moldova has served us iconic moments and so much to talk about!
Of course, when Sasha Bognibov made it to the national final they had to withdraw …
This is sad. One of the most interesting countries to look up to at Eurovision is out. For a third year in a row only 37 countries will participate as almost all Eastern Europe won’t take part. I really hope EBU will address somehow this situation next year because with more increasing costs I fear more countries will withdraw in the future.
Sad for the artists that got through to the final (Not Sa*ha). But also so happy for Valleria being able to join uvpsm last second ? that’s what we call an insta karma
uvpsm is called San Marino Song Contest this year.