Bulgaria has won the 70th Eurovision Song Contest, held in Vienna, Austria, on Saturday night. The kitsch pop music extravaganza, the world's biggest live music contest, was again overshadowed by protests and a boycott over Israel's participation.
Bulgarian singer Dara won with the song "Bangaranga," beating 24 other competitors in the grand final. The song's infectious beats and tightly choreographed dance routine proved a hit with both national juries and viewers, whose votes together decide the winner.
The Eurovision Song Contest described Dara as "one of the most well-known pop musicians in her country, shaping the image of contemporary Bulgarian pop with her unique voice, commanding stage presence and unrestrained genre-blending." This is Bulgaria's first win in the contest's history.
Israel finished second. Five countries—Spain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Iceland, and Slovenia—pulled out of the contest in protest at Israel's involvement. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said on X: "We will not be in Vienna, but we will do so with the conviction that we are on the right side of history."
The contest has been marred in recent years by the dispute over Israel's military offensive in Gaza, which followed the Hamas-led attack on October 7, 2023, that killed around 1,200 people in Israel. The subsequent war has resulted in the deaths of more than 70,000 Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
The boycott means this year's contest had just 35 entries, the fewest since 2003, with only 25 acts in the final. Television viewing figures are expected to be lower than last year's 166 million, which was more than the 128 million who watched the Super Bowl.
Israel condemned the boycott, claiming it is the target of a global smear campaign. Eurovision director Martin Green said before the final: "We're going through some challenging times at the moment."
The overwhelming favorites going into the final were Finland's duo of violinist Linda Lampenius and singer Pete Parkkonen with their number "Liekinheitin" (Flamethrower). Australia's Delta Goodrem was also expected to challenge with her song "Eclipse."
Hours before the final, hundreds marched through Vienna shouting "Free, free Palestine" and "boycott Eurovision" under heavy police presence. They condemned organizers for allowing Israel to compete while Russia was excluded in 2022 for its invasion of Ukraine.
The Palestinian ambassador in Vienna, Salah Abdel Shafi, told protesters Israel's inclusion was "an insult to art, to culture, to music and to humanity."
Source: www.dw.com