Moldova’s national broadcaster, Teleradio-Moldova (TRM), has officially announced the details of its selection process, Selecția Națională, to determine their representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025. Their selection approach has been outlined in the newly published regulations. Selecția Națională is scheduled for February 20 and 28, 2025.
Submission Period and Eligibility Requirements
TRM has opened the submission window for entries, which will close on December 27, 2024, at 17:00 local time. Aspiring participants must submit their applications electronically via eurovision.md/participa or deliver them in person to the Eurovision Collection Center at Moldova 1 TV headquarters in Chișinău.
To qualify, entries must adhere to specific requirements:
- Songs must be original, unreleased before September 1, 2024, and no longer than three minutes.
- The primary performer (soloist or lead vocalist in groups) must hold Moldovan citizenship. However, up to 50% of group members may hold other nationalities, provided their vocal stage time does not exceed half the performance.
- Contestants must be at least 16 years old by May 17, 2025.
The submission package must include a registration form, a project description, the song on digital media, a printed copy of the lyrics (and translation, if necessary), and a declaration affirming originality. Additionally, TRM emphasizes that songs containing “political, defamatory, religious, or commercial messages” or content inciting “hatred or discrimination of any kind” will not be permitted.
The Three-Phase Selection Process
Moldova’s national selection will consist of three phases:
- File Examination (December 28, 2024 – January 15, 2025)
During this stage, a special committee will evaluate all submitted applications for compliance with the competition rules. According to the document, only those entries meeting the specified criteria will advance to the next phase. - Live Auditions (January 15 – February 5, 2025)
Qualified applicants will perform live in front of a jury. The auditions will be broadcast on Moldova 1 and made available online. TRM outlines that “the basic criterion for selection will be the interpretive performance,” with songs performed live using their submitted backing tracks. Jury evaluations will be based on melody, originality, and interpretation, with scores assigned on a scale from 0 to 12. - National Final (February 20–28, 2025)
The finalists will compete in a live show, broadcast on Moldova 1. This stage will combine jury (50%) and public (50%) votes to determine the winner. The order of performances will be decided by a random draw, and acts will perform live with a maximum of six individuals on stage. In the event of a tie, the organizing committee, in consultation with the jury, will make the final decision.
TRM reserves the right to modify the number of finalists or make alternative arrangements for the selection process.
Additional Guidelines for Participants
TRM has outlined strict conditions for participants. Contestants are expected to:
- Take part in all rehearsals, promotional events, and press conferences organized by TRM and the European Broadcasting Union (EBU).
- Avoid unauthorized public appearances or media coverage related to Eurovision without prior approval from TRM.
Failure to comply with these obligations or withdrawal without valid justification will result in penalties, including exclusion from future competitions for up to two years. Furthermore, TRM retains the right to recoup expenses if a selected representative withdraws from the competition after being chosen.
Jury Composition and Transparency
The selection jury will include professionals from Moldova and abroad, such as singers, composers, and public figures. The jury’s composition will remain confidential until the day of each stage, ensuring impartiality. Members are required to confirm that they have no personal or professional ties to participants.
Direct Selection Option
As in previous years, such as 2023, TRM retains the right to bypass certain stages of the process and directly select Moldova’s Eurovision representative. According to the regulations, this option may be exercised “without being obligated to conduct subsequent stages,” and contestants will have no grounds for appeal.
