Romania has been booted from the Eurovision song contest after its national broadcaster failed settle its bill.
Ovidiu Anton
Romania’s entry to this year’s Eurovision Song Contest has been expelled because its national broadcaster Televiziunea Romana (TVR) owes the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) 16 million Swiss francs (£11,360,000) dating back to 2007.
The EBU said that the decision to expel the country was “regrettable” but said it had not received a response from the Romanian government after it called on it to make arrangements to repay the debt.
The EBU had given the Romanian government until the 20th April to make arrangements.
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REGRETTABLE
Speaking about the expulsion the said EBU director general Ingrid Deltenre said,
“It is regrettable that we are forced to take this action,”
“We are disappointed that all our attempts to resolve this matter have received no response from the Romanian government.
“In recent weeks the EBU has taken note of the Ministry of Finance’s suggestion that TVR may be placed into insolvency proceedings which may in turn lead to a profound restructuring of the broadcaster.
“The EBU is a not-for-profit association which represents 73 public service broadcasters in 56 countries. The continued indebtedness of TVR jeopardises the financial stability of the EBU itself.”
HONEST ARTIST
The singer Ovidiu Anton who was due to represent Romania with his song Moment of Silence took to his website to say,
“Dear friends, I have finally received the official communication. I am trying to smile and not get carried away, but it is unfair.”
“I am still the same, same honest artist, same fighter that won fare [sic] and square both from the jury and from the public’s vote, but yet, I have to declare I have been “defeated” By whom? Why? Fair? I don’t know how to put it nicely, so I abstain.”
