Slovakia will not return to the Eurovision Song Contest in 2023.
Slovak broadcaster RTVS has confirmed to ESCToday that they will not be participating in next year’s Eurovision Song Contest. The broadcaster states that the key factors are “financial constraints and low viewing figures”.
Slovakia last took part in the Eurovision Song Contest in 2012, when Max Jason Mai finished last in the second semi-final with “Don’t Close Your Eyes”.
Since their debut in 1994, Slovakia has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest a total of seven times. Slovakia’s best result was in 1996, when Marcel Palonder finished 18th with the song “Kým nás máš”. The country has a history of withdrawing and returning to the contest. They were relegated from the contest in 1995 and 1997. They then withdrew from the contest entirely between 1999 and 2008, and again from 2013 onwards.
All Slovak entries between 2009 and 2012 failed to progress from the semi-finals. Their 2011 entry “I’m Still Alive” came the closest to qualifying, placing 13th in the semi-final. It was also the first Slovak entry to be entirely in English. Although it failed to qualify, their 2010 entry “Horehronie” by Kristina is one of the most viewed videos on the official Eurovision YouTube channel.
Source: ESCToday | Image source: Eurovision.tv
