The CEO responsible at Portugal's national broadcaster, RTP, for participation at the Eurovision Song Contest, Nuno Santos, will leave the public broadcaster. A successor will be nominated at the end of 2007 and the final details will only be made in January. Due to the lack of time for his successor to organise Portugal's song for 2008, the Festival da Canção national final may not be organized.
The decision for next year’s Eurovision participation was to be made this week, but the stepping down of Nuno Santos has putit in stand-by. His contract on RTP came to an end and he decided not to go on and will move to a private TV channel. Nuno Santos leaves behinda trace of continuous effort to take part in all Eurovision-related events.
The concept of a national final in 2008with invited singers and songwriters was in the plans of the Portuguese broadcaster, but the scarce time to put up such an event may lead to a scenery of an internal selection.We will have to wait till mid January. Not much can be added for now. The new CEO is still to be assigned and will be up to him to decide the fate of Eurovision in Portugal.Nonetheless, RTP will not withdraw.
