North Macedonian broadcaster MRT’s Program Council agreed to meet in a special session to discuss the possibility of North Macedonia’s return to Eurovision.
A demand from Eurovision fans – and a desire to come back
Last week, on October 22nd, at 14:00, MRT’s Program Council gathered to discuss the broadcaster’s programming for 2025. During this session, a proposal from the public came into discussion: an email from Eurovision fans emphasising “the need for the participation of Macedonian Radio Television to [the coming] Eurovision”. Chairwoman Smilka Janeska Sarkajac remarked that the council should meet in a special session with Eurovision as the only element on the agenda, “to engage and make efforts to take part in [Eurovision 2025], if such a thing is still possible”.
Although there has not yet been news about the special session, the regular one still discussed Eurovision participation. According to the minutes, the topic has come up three years in a row, since North Macedonia’s withdrawal from the contest before Liverpool 2023, and each time the council agreed that the Balkan country should return.
We, the program council of MRT, as a body, for the third time i.e. for the third year in a row, have agreed that we should not cancel [our] participation in Eurovision even if we come last every year ; any opportunity for the affirmation and participation of Macedonia in any international competition, and the mention of Macedonia at such events, should not be missed.
Macedonian Radio Television exists to produce music and to affirm the music and culture of Macedonia – how is it possible to so easily cancel such an opportunity for [cultural] affirmation ?
Minutes from the MRT Program Council’s 260th regular session – 22nd of October 2024
A withdrawal due to financial difficulties
Two years ago, MRT withdrew from the contest, citing financial difficulties due to the rising costs of energy, driven by the Covid-crisis aftermath and the war in Ukraine. The withdrawal only affected the main contest, however, with MRT still taking part in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest for North Macedonia in 2022, 2023 and in the coming 2024 contest in Madrid.
Before withdrawing from ESC, North Macedonia had taken part in every contest since 2004, as well as some editions before that, first attempting participation in 1996, when they failed to qualify from the preliminary round held to shorten the limit of entries to 23. Until 2018 (included) they took part under the name of “Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”.
Since the introduction of the semi-final, North Macedonia qualified to six Grand Finals, and failed to do so twelve times, including their last two participations (although in 2008 and 2009 their entry came 10th in their respective semi-final, but did not qualify because of the jury wildcard rule in use at the time). Their best result came in 2019, the first year under their current name, when Tamara Todevska came 7th overall and won the jury vote.
Do you think North Macedonia can get back to the contest in time for Basel 2025? If not, do you expect them back in 2026? What can they do to get back to the final? Tell us more in the comments below or on social media at @escxtra!
