For the fourteenth consecutive year, Monaco will not participate at the Eurovision Song Contest 2020. The Monegasque national broadcaster TMC confirmed their non-participation to ESCToday.com.
Microstates reluctant to return
Alongside Monaco, both Andorra and five-time champion Luxembourg have previously confirmed their lack of interest in participating again at the Eurovision Song Contest. This is mostly due to the high costs involved in sending an act to take part in the contest. Andorra withdrew due to financial issues after the Eurovision Song Contest 2009 and are yet to return with the broadcaster, RTVA, recently confirming it has no plans to do so.
However, other factors come into play. Monaco’s reason for withdrawal after the Eurovision Song Contest 2006 was that TMC believed specific regional voting blocks between certain countries gave Monaco practically no chance of qualification.
Luxembourg, who withdrew after the Eurovision Song Contest 1993, echoed the concerns outlined by both Andorra and Monaco. Despite increasing pressure on the national broadcaster, RTL, it recently outlined that the contest is not in their vision for the future
Of course, San Marino has since débuted at the contest after these withdrawals. The microstate entirely surrounded by Italy has managed to qualify on two occasions, benefiting from the altered regulations in 2009 which introduced 50% jury voting.
The last entry to represent Monaco at the Eurovision Song Contest was the iconic bilingual “La Coco-Dance” by Séverine Ferrer. The entry which was performed using both French and Tahitian languages finished 21st place in the semifinal with 14 points. “La Coco-Dance” received 8 points from France and 3 from Andorra, as well as 2 from Estonia and 1 from Poland.
Would you like to see Monaco, Andorra and Luxembourg return to the Eurovision Song Contest? Which other nations would you like to see participate? Let us know in the comments below and on social media @ESCXTRA.
