After their neighboring country, The Netherlands, won the 2019 Eurovision Song Contest with Duncan Laurence and his “Arcade”, the local Eurovision fans in Luxembourg, together with various artists including the 1973 Eurovision winner Anne Marie David, are calling for RTL‘s return to the Contest next year.

Luxembourg are one of the seven founders of the Eurovision Song Contest, and one of the most successful nations in the Contest. They won a total of five times – Jean-Claude Pascal brought Luxembourg’s first victory in 1961 with “Nous les amoureux”. Only four years later, in 1965 France Gall won the Contest with one of the most well-known entries in the history of the Contest – “Poupée de cire, poupée de son”. In the following years, Luxembourg achieved two consecutive victories – in 1972 with “Après toi” by Vicky Leandros, and the following year with “Tu te reconnaitras” by Anne-Marie David. Their fifth, and last up-to-date victory came in 1983 with Corinne Hermès and her song “Si la vie est cadeau”. Apart from their five victories, they also achieved another eight top-5 places.

Luxembourg last took part in 1993 with Modern Times and their song “Donne-moi une chance”.

Local Eurovision fans ran a petition back in 2013 for Luxembourg to return to the Contest, but RTL refused citing financial reasons. Fans are starting another petition this year, and they are joined by various artists, including the 1973 winner – Anne-Marie David. In their petition to RTL and the Chamber of Deputies, they state:

Can we really believe that the Grand Duchy does not have the means to pay the €150,000 fee to participate in Eurovision, unlike the small state of San Marino? Any sponsor or sponsor would be happy to support RTL, which would gain a strong audiovisual audience!

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Let’s admit that in terms of “Nation branding”, Eurovision is a boon for Luxembourg. We can not pretend to weigh on the European stage and refuse to participate in the only festive event that genuinely brings together the popular public of our continent.

The spirit of Eurovision is still very much alive in Luxembourg, as OGAE Luxembourg, with help of various sponsors, organized the annual Eurovision Gala Night in Luxembourg for nine years, where local singers could show their singing abilities, and were joined on stage by various Eurovision stars, including Eurovision winners Dana International, Alexander Rybak, Loreen, Ruslana, Linda Martin, Gigliola Cinquetti, as well as various other Eurostars – Baccara, Verka Serduchka, András Kállay-Saunders, Zlata Ognevich, Sinplus, and many others.

Is it time for RTL to return to the Contest after 26 years of absence? Would you like to see Luxembourg back in the 2020 Eurovision Song Contest in The Netherlands? Let us know in the comments below, or on our social media pages, and vote in our poll below: