‘A quiet belief everything’s going to be all right’: Bulgarians celebrate Dara’s Eurovision win with Bangaranga

Bulgaria’s first-ever win in European song contest delivers ray of hope at turbulent time after years of political instability

Bulgarians have rejoiced in their country’s first victory at the Eurovision song contest as fans welcomed home the singer whose party anthem Bangaranga proved an unexpected breakthrough hit.

“Dara is yet more proof that Bulgaria can win,” declared the new prime minister, Rumen Radev, of Darina Nikolaeva Yotova, known simply as Dara. He hailed “a young artist who, thanks to her talent and professionalism, has managed to rise above all the complexities and prejudices surrounding the [Eurovision] voting process”.