Bulgaria Wins Eurovision Song Contest Amid Controversy

Bulgaria won the 70th edition of the Eurovision Song Contest, held in Vienna, Austria, with Dara's song 'Bangaranga'. Dara, 27, whose real name is Darina Nikolaeva Jotova, performed in English; the title derives from Jamaican slang meaning chaos. Israel placed second with 'Michelle' by Noam Bettan, Romania third with 'Choke Me' by Alexandra Capitanescu, and Italy fifth with 'Per sempre sì' by Sal Da Vinci. The contest was highly controversial: five countries—Ireland, Spain, Slovenia, Netherlands, and Iceland—boycotted to protest Israel's participation amid calls for exclusion due to crimes and violence in Gaza. An investigation by the New York Times on May 11 revealed that Israel spent over one million euros in the last two years to promote its artists, exploiting a rule allowing up to 20 votes per viewer, which was changed this year. Last year's winner, Austrian singer JJ, hosted this edition.