According to an interview with Moldovan delegation member Vitalie Cojocaru, conducted with broadcaster TRM, most of the applications for Moldova Decide, the new national final for the nation, have come from foreign nationals of Moldova.

TRM says that this news proves “increased interest at an international level” in the Contest, although the submissions process contains a rule that all participating artists must at least be citizens of the Republic of Moldova in 2022.

Hopeful artists and composers who have Moldovan citizenship can either submit songs via a Google Docs form, or post their entry to the address: municipiul Chişinău, şoseaua Hânceşti 64, TV Moldova 1 (anticamera).

The online and postal submissions process was opened on 20 December 2021, and will close on 24 January 2022. A four-day examination period at the broadcaster’s headquarters will immediately follow this, before the live hearings, which will take place on 29th January at TRM’s studios.

The final of Moldova Decide has been organised for 5 March 2022.

Moldova has had a rich history at Eurovision since their debut in 2005, when Zdob și Zdub came 6th with Boonika bate doba. They have qualified for the final on 11 out of 16 occasions, and have placed on the left of the scoreboard 3 of the last 4 times, their best result coming in 2017 when Sunstroke Project, featuring Sergey Stepanov (aka Epic Sax Guy), moonwalked their way to a bronze medal in Kyiv with Hey, Mamma!

Their result at the 2021 Contest in Rotterdam followed suit, with 13th in the Grand Final for Natalia Gordienko’s Dream Team-penned Eurofan party anthem Sugar (“AAAAAAAAA…” *mic drop* etc.).

Who would you like to see represent Moldova in Turin? Let us know in the comments and on social media.