Turkish chances to return to Eurovision got slimmer as TRT Chairman steps down

Hopes to see Turkey  returning to Eurovision seem to have reduced as Ibrahim Eren, the former chairman and general manager of Turkish public broadcaster stepped down as director.  Eren recently made public that TRT was in contact with the EBU to discuss the potential return of the country to the pan-European competition.  However, president Erdogan decided to replace him.

A few weeks ago Erenrevealed that the public broadcaster was seriously discussing a potential comeback.

Our Board of Directors still continues with the same decision, but meanwhile, we are also in talks with ‘Eurovision’. A very good person came to ‘Eurovision’ from Northern Europe. I think this year was very successful. After a long time, they had a nice competition. Our friends started meeting with the newcomer. I don’t know what will happen?

Furthermore, the EBU itself  confirmed that they were in direct with TRT, in order for Turkey to return to the Eurovision Song Contest.  The EBU made the following statement on eurovision.tv:

Turkey hasn’t participated in the Eurovision Song Contest since 2012, pressing pause on a rich history within the competition that includes 34 entries and a 2003 victory thanks to Sertab Erener’s Every Way That I Can.

Despite the break in participation, the Contest remains popular in the ‘land of four seasons’ and speculation about a potential return has been fueled by İbrahim Eren, Chairman and Director General at national broadcaster TRT, after commenting on the prospect of Turkey returning to the Eurovision Song Contest.

 

However, Ibrahim Eren’s departure from his position, reduces the possibilities of seeing Turkey in Eurovision for 2022.  Ibrahim Erem publicly thanked Erdogan via Twitter for the opportunity he gave him in his previous role.

Ahmet Albayrak will take office as the  new President of TRT .  At the same time, Mehmet Zahid Sobacı will take the role of new General Manager . Both Albayrak and Sobacı are political allies of Erdogan and members of the Islamist AKP party.  Therefore, their profiles do not seem to reconcile with the spirit of the Eurovision Song Contest.’

Nevertheless, fans can keep their hope of a future Turkish return to the competition.  This however, will depend of a political decision by Erdogan who may be interested to demonstrate that Turkey remains a European country and to improve his international reputation.

Do you think that Turkey will finally return to the Eurovision Song Contest?

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