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The most striking immediate aftermath story came not from the usual suspects but from Chisinau. Vlad Țurcanu (pictured), Director General of Moldovan public broadcaster TRM, resigned on Monday following nationwide public fury over his jury’s voting. Moldova’s professional jury awarded 12 points to Poland, 10 to Israel, and just three points to neighbouring Romania – while simultaneously giving Ukraine nothing at all.
The Moldovan public did not agree. The country’s televote gave Romania the maximum 12 points and Ukraine 10. Former Defence Minister Anatol Salaru posted on Facebook that “the only thing that matters is votes by ordinary people,” describing the jury result as a “national embarrassment”. Moldova’s culture minister demanded “explanations.”
Țurcanu said the resignation was his own decision and accepted institutional responsibility, acknowledging that the jury had failed to account for the “sensitivities” between Moldova and its neighbours. He had not instructed the jury how to vote, he said, but accepted that seven people’s choices had become his problem. Romania’s representative Alexandra Căpitănescu took what might be described as the gracious route, writing on Instagram that it was “not right for an entire nation to be held accountable for the decision of just seven people”.
