Monegasque newspaper L’Observateur de Monaco has just published an article detailing the government’s plan to allocate 100,000 Euros in next year’s budget to request the microstate’s return to Eurovision in 2023.

This news is bound to be welcomed by Eurofans young and old, owing to Monaco’s rich history at the Contest. Debuting in 1959, Monaco won the Contest in 1971 with Séverine’s peerless Un banc, un arbre, une rue.

After withdrawing in 1979, the principality, with a population no greater than 38,400, returned to the Contest when the Semi-Final was introduced, with every entrant between 2004 and 2006 failing to qualify for the Grand Final, despite Séverine Ferrer’s La Coco-dance standing out as the first time Tahitian had been used at the Contest (although, to quote Petra Mede: “…not very much!”)

Former Monegasque Delegation head Philippe Boscagli put these results down to geopolitical allegiances and the idea that Europe was voting for “the show rather than the song”.

For a time, it was deemed unlikely Monaco, or other microstates such as Andorra and Luxembourg, would ever return, owing to comments from Luxembourgish Culture Minister Maggy Nagel in 2014 that they have “no place” at modern-day Eurovision.

The recent interest may have something to do with San Marino’s constant embrace of the Contest, and the fact that they have reached the Grand Final twice in a row.

If Monaco does return, they will be in a unique position. TMC, who used to handle the Monegasque entry, is now owned by French public broadcaster TF1, rival to France tv, which takes care of France’s entry, and its remit has dramatically changed.

It would therefore be the responsibility of the government and municipality of Monaco, rather than a broadcaster or producer, to fund the artist and the delegation.

Are you excited to see Monaco return to Eurovision? Who would you like to see represent Monaco? Let us know in the comments and on social media.