🇷🇴 Romania to use Selecţia Naţională for Eurovision 2022

After a national selection with an internally selected artist, Romania is returning to its previous national format to determine its representative for the Eurovision Song Contest in 2022.

Stick with what you know

In a video posted to Facebook below, Romania’s public broadcaster TVR announced the return of Selecţia Naţională as the national selection for Eurovision.

The video encourages interested artists to register their interest between November 26th and December 19th, allowing a submission window of just over three weeks. Posted by the Eurovision Romania Facebook page, the video says that “you have the courage to participate”.

Interspersed throughout the video are some of Romania’s past participants including Mihai, Luminiţa Anghel and Mandinga. All of the artists included scored respectable places for Romania in previous Contests. Finally, the video ends with a link for the rules of the competition, though specific rules have yet to be published.

National selection of drama

The revival of Selecţia Naţională is controversial following previous scandals using the selection method. Allegations of corruption and collusion have plagued the national final, with bigger artists favoured over up and coming singers. These allegations reached their peak in 2019, when Ester Peony won the right to represent Romania in Tel Aviv. Despite her triumph in the jury vote, Peony only received 356 televotes in total from the public.

The increase in controversy, coupled with two years of non-qualifications lead TVR to select their artist internally for 2020/2021. This decision marked a departure in Romania’s strategy, as it was the first time Romania had no national final. However, following another failure to qualify, TVR has returned to its trusted selection format to redeem its place in the final.

Romania’s history at Eurovision

Romania joined the Eurovision family in the Eastern wave of enlargement, making their debut in 1994. Their entry – Dan Bittman’s “Dincolo de nori” – finished in 21st place with a total of 14 points. At the introduction of semi-finals, Romania found their stride and were present in every Eurovision final until 2018. Romania’s best result is third place, scored twice in 2005 and 2010 respectively.

In 2021, Romania was represented by Roxen, who had been internally selected in 2020 prior to the Contest’s cancellation. Roxen performed her song – “Amnesia” – at the first semi-final in Rotterdam. However, unfortunately Romania failed to qualify for the final. At the close of voting, Romania finished 12th in a field of 16, scoring 85 points.

What do you think of Romania’s choice? Will Selecţia Naţională prove to bring Romania back into the final? Also, who would you like to see in the selection next year? As always, please let us know what you think by commenting below or on our social media. To stay up to date on all things Romania, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

News Source: TVR

Photo Credit: TVR