RTVA the national broadcaster of Andorra will not be returning to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2018, nine years on from their last participation.
The Andorran national broadcaster has announced that it currently has no plans to take part in any EBU contests. Andorra has not participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2009 and has ruled out any return to the contest in the past on the ground of financial limitations at the broadcaster.
The Director General of RTVA said in a statement that:
In the present editorial line of the company, it is not contemplated to participate in any artistic contest of whatever nature. ย The resizing of both personal and financial of the company, make it impossible to take part projects of these magnitudes and are outside our objectives .
To date Andorra is the only country to have ruled themselves out of returning to the contest next year. The following countries have either confirmed or showed an interest:
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Cyprus
- Estonia
- Finland
- Lithuania
- Portugal โ Host nation
- Russia
- Spain
Andorra is the only country to have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest to have never competed in the Grand Final. They debuted in the contest in 2004 and participated annually until 2009.
During this period of time, Andorra came close to qualifying in 2007 when only one semi-final was held. Andorra was represented by Anonymous and the songย “Salvem el mรณn”, they finished 12th just 11 points short of qualifying.
Source: Eurofestivales
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Andorra debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2004 alongside Albania, Belarus and Serbia and Montenegro. The country participated annually from 2004 to 2009, but never made the final of the contest. They remain the only country to have participated in the Eurovision Song Contest and not performed in a final. Andorraโs best result came in 2007 when Anonymous finished 12th in the semi-final scoring 80 points, they were just 11 points away from qualifying for the final.
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Then Monaco would return to the 2018 contest with Russia and Turkey.
Routing for Russia to return!!!
They should come back in 2019, 10 years after the last participation ๐