Moldovan Public Broadcaster Director Resigns Over Eurovision Jury Scores

The director of Moldova's public broadcaster resigned on Monday after the country's Eurovision jury awarded three points to Romania and zero points to Ukraine. The jury gave twelve points to Poland and ten points to Israel. The public vote, which also counts toward the final result, awarded Romania twelve points and Ukraine ten points.

Hundreds of fans protested on social media following the announcement.

Romania share deep linguistic and cultural ties, with much of present-day Moldova having been part of Romania in the early 20th century. More than 850,000 Moldovan citizens have acquired Romanian citizenship since Moldova gained independence in 1991.

Moldova's president said earlier this year she would vote for unification with Romania if a referendum were held. The president framed the idea partly as a way to protect Moldova's democracy amid Russian pressure.

Reactions to the Jury Decision The broadcaster's director stated that the jury's failure to recognize sensitivities between neighbors was extraordinary and serious. The director added that the country's stance toward Ukraine is not one of zero points and feelings toward Romania can only be ones of love.

A member of the seven-person jury said she regretted accepting the invitation and described the experience as a public lynching. The jury member said she did not see the vote as an expression of anti-Romanian sentiment. Moldova's culture minister called over the weekend for explanations regarding the jury's decision.

A political commentator accused the broadcaster of causing a scandal with Romania. The president downplayed the row on Tuesday, saying the countries should not allow anything to damage their relationship. The president said the most important part of the vote was the public's decision to give Romania its highest score.

Romania's contestant finished third in Saturday's contest, helped overwhelmingly by the public vote. The contestant said it is not right for an entire nation to be held accountable for the decision of seven people. Moldova's contestant, who came eighth, called on fans not to fuel hatred and said the countries have been and will remain friends.