UMVA has learned that Moldova's public broadcaster chief, Vlad Turcanu, has resigned amid a firestorm of protests and online backlash over the country's shocking Eurovision jury voting record.
The stunning decision came after a wave of outrage swept across social media, with fans slamming the jury's paltry three-point score for neighboring Romania, while Moldova's televoters awarded Romania a generous 12 points.
Turcanu, director general of Teleradio-Moldova (TRM), announced his resignation at a tense news conference on Monday, shouldering the blame for the controversy. "This was my decision," he said, adding that as head of the institution, he bore primary responsibility for the jury's vote.
The dramatic split between Moldova's jury and televoters during Saturday's Eurovision final sparked a maelstrom of criticism, with countless fans taking to social media to express their dismay at the jury's scoring.
Romania, represented by Alexandra Căpitănescu, received a puzzlingly low score from Moldova's jury, while the country's televoters showed their support with a 12-point award. The disparity raised eyebrows, particularly given that Romania's jury vote awarded Moldova 10 points, and the televote gave Moldova 12 points.
The controversy deepened as Moldova's jury, handpicked by TRM, awarded 12 points to Poland, which finished a disappointing 12th, and 10 points to Israel, the contest's runner-up. Viewers were also upset that the jury awarded no points to Ukraine, while the televoters gave 10 points.
Anatol Salaru, a former defense minister, was among those criticizing the jury vote, writing on Facebook that "the only thing that matters is votes by ordinary people." He added that the jury's vote seemed out of touch with the public's sentiment.
Moldova's own entry, Satoshi, weighed in on the controversy, saying that the public's support for Romania "reflects the real opinion of our society." The incident highlights the challenges faced by national broadcasters in managing Eurovision participation and navigating the complex landscape of public opinion.
The resignation of Turcanu underscores the politically sensitive nature of leadership changes at public broadcasters in smaller European states, where media independence is closely watched. This year's contest was marked by boycotts from five countries over Israel's participation, adding to the tensions.
