Head of Eurovision broadcaster quits after protests in country over finale voting
Satoshi represented Moldova at Eurovision 2026 (Image: Getty Images)
Moldova’s public broadcaster chief Vlad Turcanu has resigned after mass protests and online backlash over the country’s Eurovision jury voting record, including awarding Romania only three points.
Turcanu, director general of Teleradio-Moldova (TRM), announced his decision at a news conference on Monday. “This was my decision,” he said, as per The Independent. Turcanu added: “We distanced ourselves from the jury’s voting, but it is still our responsibility, my responsibility in the first instance, as head of this institution.”
The resignation follows anger over the split between Moldova’s jury and televoters during Saturday’s Eurovision final.
Countless fans slammed the jury’s low score for neighbouring Romania on social media, while Moldova’s televoters awarded Romania 12 points. Romania was represented by Alexandra Capitanescu.
On the other hand, Romania gave Moldova 10 points in the jury vote, and 12 points in the televote.
What sparked the Eurovision backlash
Moldova’s jury, picked by TRM, awarded 12 points to Poland, which finished 12th, and 10 points to Israel, the contest’s second-place finisher. Viewers were also unhappy that the jury awarded no points to Ukraine, while the televoters gave 10 points.
Former defence minister Anatol Salaru criticised the jury vote in a Facebook post, writing: “The only thing that matters is votes by ordinary people,” adding: “This was a vote among brothers. The rest is an unimportant detail.”
Moldova’s entry, Satoshi, also commented on the support for Romania, saying it “reflects the real opinion of our society”.
Eurovision 2026 voting and wider tensions
Eurovision participation is managed by national broadcasters, which select juries and handle compliance with European Broadcasting Union rules. Leadership changes at public broadcasters can become politically sensitive in smaller European states where media independence is closely watched.
This year’s contest was hit with boycotts from five countries over Israel’s participation, and Bulgaria was declared the winner.
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