Romania: Multi-city Selectia Nationala likely to return in 2019

As we reported a couple of weeks back, Romania confirmed their participation in Tel Aviv next May. According to local media reports, it looks like the country is set to use a multi-city national final (Selectia Nationala) to pick their 20th entrant.

Suceava approached to host

According to newspaper Monitorul de Suceava, TVR approached the city of Sucaeva to be one of the host city of the Romanian national final to pick the 2019 entrant. Suceava is a city of approximately 100,000 people located in the Northeast of the country. Based on the same report, the mayor of the city welcomed the offer, with the show to take place in December in the performance hall “Matei Vişniec“. The mayor stated: 

We received a request from Romanian Television to be partners, co-producers for the Eurovision Song Contest 2019 edition. A regional final was to be held in Sucaeva in December 2018. I replied that we agreed to promote the image of the city.

Currently, no further details on the number of shows that will take place are available. In 2018, the selection consisted of 5 semi-finals and one final. The shows took place in the following cities: 

• Semi-final 1: Focsani
• Semi-final 2: Timisoara 
• Semi-final 3: Craiova 
• Semi-final 4: Turda 
• Semi-final 5: Sighisoara 
• Final: Bucharest 

Romania in the Eurovision Song Contest

Romania made their Eurovision debut back in 1994 after first trying to enter in 1993, but fell short in the pre-qualifying round. So far, it participated at the contest a total of 19 times. During the semi-final era Romania has remained one of the most consistent Eurovision nations. Yet they still await their maiden victory. Their best results came in 2005 and 2010 with two third place finishes. Firstly, Luminița Anghel and Sistem with “Let Me Try” and secondly, Paula Seling and Ovi with “Playing With Fire”.

In Lisbon, it was female fronted rock band The Humans flying the Romanian flag in Lisbon with “Goodbye”. Unfortunately, it became Romania’s first non-qualification in the semi-finals. Finishing in the dreaded 11th place in the second semi-final with 107 points just five points shy of a spot in the final.

Do you think it is a good idea to continue a multi-city Selectia Nationala? Will Romania return to the final in Tel Aviv? What is your favourite Romanian entry so far?

Let us know in the comment section below or on all social media platforms @ESCXTRA.