Moldova TV chief Vlad Țurcan resigns

Vlad Țurcan resigned on May 19 as director-general of Teleradio-Moldova after the country’s Eurovision jury vote set off criticism in Moldova and Romania. Țurcan said at a news conference that he would submit his resignation to the broadcaster’s Supervisory Council, adding that the vote cast by the jury was ultimately his responsibility as head of the institution. (moldpres.md) The dispute followed the May 16 Eurovision final in Vienna, where Moldova’s jury gave Romania three points and Ukraine none. Moldova’s public vote, by contrast, gave Romania the maximum 12 points. ### Why did Vlad Țurcan say he was stepping down? Țurcan said on May 19 that the broadcaster had distanced itself from the jury’s decision, but that he remained accountable for it as director-general. “The vote that was cast is our responsibility and primarily mine, as head of the institution,” he said, according to Moldpres. (moldpres.md) RTÉ, citing AFP, reported that Țurcan described the episode as an “extraordinary” and “serious” incident and said the jury had failed to take account of sensitivities involving Moldova’s neighbors Romania and Ukraine. He said he had not instructed the jury how to vote. ### What was controversial about Moldova’s Eurovision vote? Moldova’s jury awarded 12 points to Poland and 10 to Israel in the Eurovision final, while giving Romania three points and Ukraine zero, according to RTÉ and Moldpres. (moldpres.md) The result drew criticism on social media and in public debate in both Moldova and Romania. The public vote in Moldova moved in a different direction. Moldovans gave Romania 12 points, Moldpres reported, widening attention on the gap between the jury result and the televote. (moldpres.md) ### Which artists and results were at the center of the row? Alexandra Căpitănescu represented Romania with “Choke Me” and finished third overall on 296 points, according to Eurovision results listings and Moldpres. (rte.ie) Moldova’s entrant, Satoshi, finished eighth with “Viva, Moldova!” on 226 points. Bulgaria won the 2026 contest in Vienna with Dara’s “Bangaranga” on 516 points, while Israel’s Noam Bettan placed second on 343, according to the published results. (moldpres.md) ### Who else responded after the backlash? Cristian Jardan, Moldova’s culture minister, called for “explanations” over the jury’s vote, RTÉ reported. Jury member Viktoria Cușnir said on Facebook that she regretted accepting the invitation to serve and described the fallout as “a public lynching experience,” while saying the vote was not an expression of anti-Romanian sentiment. (moldpres.md) Alexandra Căpitănescu said on Instagram that she had no hard feelings toward Moldova’s jury and thanked Moldovans who voted for her. Satoshi, Moldova’s contestant, also urged calm, writing: “Do not fuel hatred. Our countries have been and will remain friends.” (esccovers.com) ### What did Teleradio-Moldova say about the jury process? Teleradio-Moldova said on May 17 that it did not influence the jury’s decision and that the votes were made independently, according to reports citing the broadcaster’s statement. (esccovers.com) Moldpres said the jury’s decisions did not reflect the company’s official or editorial position. Moldpres reported that the national jury included TRM deputy director-general Andrei Zapsa, a detail that fed criticism over how the jury was appointed and how it voted. (rte.ie) ### What happens next inside Moldova’s public broadcaster? Țurcan said on May 19 that he would file a formal resignation request with Teleradio-Moldova’s Supervisory Council, “as required by law.” Moldpres reported that the council is the body due to receive the application, making it the next named institution in the process. (rte.ie) (moldpres.md) (europesays.com)