The scandal of the votes given by Moldova to Romania at Eurovision: The head of the institution that selected the jury resigns
Vlad Țurcanu is leaving the position of general director of Teleradio-Moldova. The announcement was made by Țurcanu after the Eurovision scandal, in a press conference. The scandal was linked to the fact that the competition jury formed in Moldova awarded only three points to Romania's song, “Choke me”, performed by Alexandra Căpitănescu.
“We dissociated ourselves from the jury's decision, the vote cast is our responsibility, but, first of all, mine, as the head of the institution. Our feeling for Romania is one of love”, declared Vlad Țurcanu, in the press conference held on Monday.
Țurcanu stated that he avoided giving instructions to the members of the jury as to how to vote.
“What happened – something out of the ordinary, serious, from our point of view, was that the jury did not take into account the sensitivities that exist between the Republic of Moldova and our two neighbors”, said Vlad Țurcanu, about how the points from Chisinau were awarded to Romania and Ukraine.
“Our attitude towards Ukraine is not 0 points, and our feeling for Romania can only be one of love”, said Țurcanu, referring to the fact that Ukraine's Eurovision song did not receive any points from the jury from the Republic of Moldova.
The jury's decision caused a scandal
With the resignation of Vlad Țurcanu, the mandates of the deputy directors will automatically end, that is, the one who was part of the jury – Andrei Zapşa, deputy general director responsible for television of TRM.
Vlad Țurcanu said that he will fulfill his duties until a new director is appointed, following a competition, probably in a few weeks. The terms will be decided by the company's Supervisory Board, he said.
Vlad Țurcanu has been leading “Teleradio-Moldova” since December 2021, when he was appointed by Parliament for a seven-year term.
The vote awarded by the national jury of the Republic of Moldova in the Eurovision 2026 final in Vienna caused a wave of reactions online, after Romania received only 3 points, and Ukraine was not scored at all. “I had a shock reaction,” said Margarita Druță, who announced the score given by the jury in Chisinau at Eurovision.
Who was part of the jury of the Republic of Moldova at Eurovision 2026
Teleradio Moldova sent, on Sunday, a press release in which it says that “the jury that awarded the score at Eurovision does not represent the position of the institution”. The institution also specifies who was part of the jury of the Republic of Moldova at Eurovision 2026:
- 1. Andrei Zapşa, conductor, deputy general director responsible for television of TRM
- 2. Corina Caireac, expert in audiovisual production, artist management and communication. He was part of the artistic management and communication team of the Moldovan delegation at Eurovision 2005 and Eurovision 2022, together with the band Zdob and Zdup.
- 3. Catalina Solomac – music performer. He participated in three editions of Eurovision Moldova. His song, “Pink Margarita” ranked 3rd in the national final of ESC Moldova in 2026.
- 4. Pavel Orlov – performer, soloist of a band, composer and music producer. He took second place in the national final of Eurovision Moldova 2026.
- 5. Stanislav Goncear – artist. Mainly active in pop-jazz and soul/R&B genres, with jazz influences and a contemporary pop sound, collaborating with young artists who share similar musical tastes.
- 6. Victoria Cuşnir – journalist at Radio Chisinau. Graduated from the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts, specializing in screenwriting, film and television directing. Producers of shows about music and culture, directors of outdoor shows and documentary makers. Member of the jury for the national selection at Eurovision in 2018, 2022 and 2024.
- 7. Ilona Stepan – artistic director and first conductor of the “Doina” Academic Choir Chapel.
Alexandra Căpitănescu placed third in the Eurovision 2026 final, after a spectacular moment, to the cheers of the audience. Romania's representation at Eurovision received the maximum score – 12 points – from the public in the Republic of Moldova.
