Maja Tokić, the new editor for Dora 2025, has revealed additional details about the competition that will choose the representative for Eurovision 2025.
In an interview with Slobodna Dalmacija, Maja Tokić, the new Editor for Dora 2025, has revealed additional details concerning the next edition of the Croatian musical competition that will choose the country’s representative for the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel, Switzerland.
During the interview, Tokić did not confirm the official dates of Dora 2025, although it has been confirmed by the Croatian Head of Delegation Tomislav Štengl that it will take place in the second half of February.
She then proceeded to discuss the changes to format, and what she has been implementing in order to avoid “a repeat of the case of Baby Lasagna”, who almost did not enter the competition in 2024 and then proceeded to win Dora and to place second in the Grand Final of ESC 2024. Baby Lasagna only secured a plan in Dora following the withdrawal of another participating act in the Croatian selection, having originally being on the reserve list.
Tokić explained that, like last year, Dora 2025 will consist of two semi-finals and one final night. She revealed that HRT has completely changed the juries, and that a judging panel made up of seven new music experts will select 24 songs and 4 reserves. The broadcaster has received 221 submissions, varying in diversity and including French chansons and Irish melodies.
Finally, Tokić stated that the 50-50 split jury and televote voting will stay, but she is also working to introduce online voting. It appears that international jury will remain a part of the final as well. The contest will be held in either Zagreb or Opatija. The winner will represent Croatia at the Eurovision Song Contest 2025 in Basel.
Baby Lasagna represented Croatia at Eurovision 2024 in Malmö with “Rim Tim Tagi Dim”. The song was the televote winner in the Grand Final, scoring a total of 337 points. Overall Croatia finished 2nd with a total of 547 points.
Image source: Sarah Louise Bennett / EBU | Source: Slobodna Dalmacija
Croatia debuted in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1993. They were one of three countries to debut in the contest that year. Croatia’s best result came in 2024 when Baby Lasgana finished 2nd in Malmö. He performed the song “Rim Tim Tagi Dim” which scored a total of 547 points, including 12 points from the juries in Cyprus and Serbia, and 9 sets of 12 points from the public vote. Croatia returned to the contest in 2016 having withdrawn after the 2013 contest due to a string of poor results and financial difficulties.
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