The Republic of Moldova will compete in the first semifinal of the 2016 Eurovision Song Contest in Stockholm. In the draw, it was decided that Moldova’s representative on May 10 will enter the competition the 14th. The national organizers said that Moldova’s representative will be chosen on February 27.

Leonid Melnic, a member of the National Organizational Committee of the Eurovision Song Contest, has told IPN that the singers selected in the live auditions of last December will compete in the two national semifinals, which will take place on February 23 and 25. In the national final on February 27, the jury and the public will decide the winner.

Thus, in the first final Moldova’s representative will compete alongside 17 states, including Sweden, Greece, Russia, the Czech Republic, Australia, and Hungary. The second semifinal will take place on May 12, while the grand final – on May 14.

This year it is the 61st Eurovision Song Contest. Moldova has taken part in this competition since 2005. Last year Moldova was represented by Ukrainian singer Eduard Romanyuta, who didn’t qualify for the Eurovision final in Vienna. According to the organizers, this year there are no foreigners competing as soloists in the national competition, but some foreign singers form part of musical duos, which is permitted.