In the weeks following Eurovision 2024, Moldova’s public broadcaster TRM has come under pressure after the channel’s spending for the competition was revealed.
TRM spending thousands
At a meeting of Moldova’s Supervisory and Development Council at the end of May, TRM had spent a total of 650,000 Moldovan leu from public funds. This cost for Eurovision 2024 preparations is equivalent to €34,079.50, or £28,813.77.
Of this 650,000 leu spent by the broadcaster, Natalia Barbu‘s costs of participation and presence for the competition amounted to just short of 200,000 leu. The remaining 450,000 came in the transport and housing of the Moldovan delegation. This was something insisted upon by Moldovan Minister for Education Corneliu Popovici.
During the meeting, TRM refused to comment on whether delegation members who are not employed by the broadcaster accompanied those involved. The Council thus instructed TRM’s leadership to provide an itemised list of those who travelled to Sweden for the Contest and what activities were carried out using public funds.
Popovici urged that misuse of funds could lead to the withdrawal of the country from Eurovision. In the meeting, he also refenced the withdrawal of neighbouring country Romania due to similar issues, despite having a much larger budget than that of TRM.
Moldova’s Eurovision journey
Moldova is relatively new to the Eurovision Song Contest, joining in 2005. Their debut entry, Zdob și Zdub, finished in 6th place, which had remained their highest scoring entry up until 2017. They were dethroned by returners Sunstroke Project and the song ‘Hey Mamma’, which finished in 3rd place. At the close of voting, Moldova received 374 points.
After representing Moldova in 2007, Natalia Barbu returned to Eurovision in 2024 with the song “In the Middle”. She received 20 points in the first semi-final, ultimately placing thirteenth and missing out on the grand final.
What do you think of what is happening in Moldova? Do you think that TRM will withdraw from next year’s Contest? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads and Bluesky as we start our preparations for Eurovision 2025!
News Source: Noi.md
Photo Credit: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU
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