Who's Not In Malmo (& Why)?

Who's not there in Malmo and Why?

There are many countries who have previously participated in the Eurovision Song Contest in the past, who will not be represented in Malmo this year.  Though their reasons for not participating vary (and the absence of some are felt more strongly than others), the  fall into four categories:  (1) Withdrawing Countries (those who were at the Contest last year in Baku, but are missing this year); (2) Absent Countries (participants in recent Contests who are away this year as well) ; (3) Long-time Gone [and Probably Never Returning] (countries who have not been back to the Contest in a long time, and who we will not see for a while, if ever); and (4) New Country/ies (those planning to debut this year, but who could/did not make it to Malmo).

Withdrawing Countries:

• Bosnia & Herzegovina - Sending the most eclectic bunch of entries, performers and artists to the Contest, the country withdrew with its public broadcaster facing financial difficulties, and unable to produce a national selection show for Eurovision this year.  BHRT has said that it has high hopes of a return as early as next year, thanks to solid relations with its neighbors and improving economic fortunes of Bosnia & Herzegovina.  
• Portugal - One of the oldest participants (since 1964's Copenhagen Contest, where their debut was marred by the country's first nul point), Portugal had only missed two competitions (during those mid-1990s expansion years with crudely developed calculations to limit participant numbers in the Final, before the introduction of the Semi Final system).  This year will be the country's third absence in its long Eurovision history, thanks to austerity measures (including severe cuts to the public broadcaster) following the country's economic downturn.  RTP has vowed to return as soon as it can. 
• Slovakia - Debuting in Millstreet in 1994, the country's participation has already seen an interruption in the past (Slovakia withdrew for a decade, returning to Moscow for the 2009 Contest).  Citing the high cost of participation, the national broadcaster withdrew from Malmo this year, hoping to return if budget difficulties are overcome for RTVS.
• Turkey - The only recent victor not returning to the Malmo Contest (Sertab Erener won for the country in 2003 in Riga), the decision not to participate by national broadcaster TRT was baffling to the Turkish public and Eurovision viewers.  TRT is well-funded, the broadcasts get high viewership, and the country's selections in the past decade of have fared well (six Top Ten finishes, including one 2nd place finish in 2010).  Unable to use any of those reasons, TRT explained that it withdrew from Eurovision to protest the automatic Final qualification of the Big Five and the introduction of the jury/televote split results.  [Still baffled, but anticipate a return next year, unless Armenia or Cyprus win in Malmo].

Absent Countries:

• Andorra - Debuting in 2004's Istanbul Contest, the small country never made it out of the Semi Final stage for six consecutive years (though not failing to distribute douze points to the Iberian peninsula - Portugal have received 64 and Spain have received 60 points from the Andorran public/juries).  Andorra's public broadcaster withdrew from the Contest in 2009 and has stated that it would return to the Contest if its finances improved.
• Poland - The country with the best debut in recent Eurovision history (in 1994's Dublin show), coming in an impressive second with a song sung in Polish (before the language restrictions was lifted), will be absent for the second year.  After withdrawing from the Baku Contest to focus on the planning for the European Football Championship in 2012 (which it was co-hosting with Ukraine), Poland regretfully declined a return to the Contest in Malmo, because of the financial difficulties of its public broadcaster, who has stated that the door is not closed to their return next year.

Long-time Gone:

• Czech Republic - The country debuted in 2007 and participated to dismal results for three consecutive years (including a nul point in Moscow in 2009 in its Semi Final).  Withdrew in 2010 because of fiscal concerns of the national broadcaster and its return is not expected to happen any time soon.
• Luxembourg -A five-time winner (and the most missed, now that Italy is back), the country withdrew after the 1993 Contest in Millstreet, Ireland, citing budgetary concerns.  In 2005, RTL confirmed that it would never return to Eurovision, because of a lack of interest from the public (though Belgium, Netherlands, France and Germany have pushed and prodded the Principality).  Return highly unlikely.
• Monaco - Debuting at the 1959 Cannes Contest and a crowd favorite (once winning, once coming in second, three times in third place and with eleven Top Ten finishes), the country initially withdrew from Eurovision after 1979's Jerusalem Contest (before it was standard to justify reason(s) for withdrawing).  Monaco returned to the stage in Istanbul in 2004 and could not place out of the Semi Final stage for three consecutive years, finally withdrawing after its dismal finish in Athens, citing a lack of interest in the Contest by the Monegasque public.
• Morocco - Participated in the 1980 The Hague Contest, as a replacement for Israel, who had withdrawn that year (despite winning the year before) in observance of a Israeli national holiday. The country finished next to last in its first and only show and has declined a return every year since, some noting that it would take a miracle to bring them back into the fold at this point.

New Country:

• Lichtenstein -The country's debut has been highly anticipated (after being nudged by neighbors Germany, Switzerland and Austria) for years, but the national broadcaster declined the invitation citing the high cost of participation.